Longtime fans of this show are already well aware of our estimation of Dr. Hanoch Shalit, the one-man-band known corporately as Imatec, Ltd. The company has no revenue, no products, and makes its $1.1 billion lawsuit against Apple Computer the focus of its web site. Shalit also issues press releases every time Steve Jobs clears his throat, just to keep news of the lawsuit in the public eye, in hopes of extorting a settlement from Apple. Come on, a $1.1 billion lawsuit (with $3.3 billion at stake) over ColorSync? It's a grab for cash, plain and simple-- Shalit's hoping that Apple will throw him a few million just to avoid the potential to lose $3 billion. When the Powers That Be were handing out subtlety, we can only assume that Shalit was too busy scamming another multi-billion-dollar company and missed hearing his name called.

But this time Shalit's sunk even lower. Not content with just looking like a corporate extortion racketeer, Shalit's decided to expand his horizons and step into the role of common street-thug shakedown artist. Faithful viewer Edward Liu notes a special report over at MacInTouch, which includes a letter from Shalit to a user of ColorSync, threatening legal action. Yes, that's right; Imatec's going after the end-users of a product he's already sent into patent dispute. Quoth the inimitable Dr. Shalit: "If Apple loses this lawsuit and pays damages to Imatec for its infringement, such payment by Apple would not release you from the payment of damages arising from infringement by you and would not prevent an injunction against your use of the Shalit patents." Quick! Do you have ColorSync installed on your Mac? If so, send Dr. Shalit a twenty and maybe he won't sue you! Have you ever used ColorSync in the past? That'll run you ten bucks-- or else he'll sue. You say you once heard Steve Jobs talking about ColorSync in a keynote address? Five bucks, please, or you'll be hearing from Shalit's lawyer.

The bottom line is this: it would be funny if it weren't so desperately sad. Furthermore, did you notice that in Dr. Shalit's letter he notes that Imatec "expects it may obtain damages in excess of 60 million dollars"? Gee, whatever happened to the $1.1 billion? Looks like reality's setting in over at Imatec headquarters-- if they only expect to collect a measly five percent of their originally proposed damages, no wonder Shalit's going after the end-users; he needs a new revenue stream. Perhaps he can find a way to sue someone with even deeper pockets? Given the degree to which Microsoft is prone to "borrowing" intellectual property, we're sure Shalit's got a patent somewhere with which he can sue Bill Gates. C'mon, Hanoch, Apple's just small potatoes in the money game; go hit up Big Bad Bill for a change.