Virtual Pints Cause a Battle
Tuesday 21 Oct 2008
Have you nicked my pint? That’s the question being asked of Carling by Steve Sheraton. Sheraton is the creator of the iBeer app made for the iPhone which simulates the pouring of a pint of beer thanks to the accelerometer on the phone. The iBeer app then reacts as though you are drinking it when you tip the handset up.
Things started to get a little restless when Carling (owned by Coors brewery) released the iPint application through the App Store. As with the iBeer, the iPint allowed users to simulate drinking a pint when tipping the glass (phone) up. The attraction of the iPint was that it was free, whereas the iBeer costs US$2.99.
Sheraton and Hottrix, who own the rights to the iBeer have now filed a lawsuit against Coors for loss of profits. I have to say, it makes a pleasant change from usual skirmish you see in the pub when somebody has their pint stolen. However, rather than a night in the police station, this could cost Coors $12.5 million if Hottrix and Sheraton has their way. That’s the biggest hike price for a pint I’ve ever encountered and I live in London.
I’m finding it all a little ludicrous that anybody would try suing somebody for an extortionate amount of money for what is a virtual pint of lager and is a bit of fun. If it was real beer I could understand people getting territorial over it. Still, I’m sure Apple are grateful for the free publicity.