Apple Snatches Up Blockbuster Patent

[nikecar]

When I rub my wife's back, I use several fingers. Will I be required to pay Apple when I want to touch her?

Sent from someplace, and with something that you need not worry about.

 

[JuniorJays]

If Google were to threaten apple with blocking YouTube on all ios devices, I think apple would quickly change their ways

 

[chevycam94]

All this crap from Apple, may be short-lived on this patent. Patents have been turned down before, for being "too general" or "inhibiting the markets growth and freedom." This would basically say that no device can use a touchscreen, other than something produced by Apple. Any intellegent person would turn that patent down in a heartbeat, no questions.

 

[OneTenderRebel]

Google has always been a "do now, worry later" company. I know you all think Google is some holy saint that truly lives by their "never do evil" line but Google has always been one to invade your privacy and then change their policies after they get caught for doing so. I think this has transfered over to Android as well, I am not saying Android is a ripped off OS cause I don't believe that at all, but you cannot question how much money Microsoft gets from each Android handset sold because Android used patents that were not theirs and they were forced to sign licensing agreements. Yes some of Apples patents are ridiculous and far too broad but they are still theirs and when Google and the Android OEM's make a device they know which patents they are using that they probably shouldn't, again act now, worry later attitude. Again, the patents as broad as they may be, were awarded to Apple so regardless of what we think, Apple is acting within legal parameters. Now I do hope all this litigation does lead to a complete overhaul of the patent system because it is in desperate need of it. This particular patent shouldn't surprise anyone though, Apple has claimed they invented multitouch since about 2005.

 

[justin82]

Makes it look like Apple is grasping at straws. Steve Jobs is dead and so will Apple, may take a while but they will fizzle out.

i dont think apple is going anywhere in the near or even not so near future .. 100 billion in cash

 

[N4UPD]

I'm going to get a patent on my personal info. If they want my personal information they will have to buy a license to get it. And far as Apple goes, you want my Android, from my cold dead hands.

 

[Sweettooth]

Apple's not going to be happy until every cell phone manufacturer and software developer not working for them launches a full scale legal attack on them. Afterall, they've offered nothing innovative since the launch of their hot aired, radio flawed iPhone 4S and Siri, just what everyone wants, a lippy, arrogant, constantly sarcastic woman to provide the results to my inquiries. So they're basically just using their patents as their flotation device and just as RIM has gone down the drain, I think it's well past time to put some holes in their raft...

 

[akhenax]

When I rub my wife's back, I use several fingers. Will I be required to pay Apple when I want to touch her?

If your wife's back is translucent, then yes.

 

[garrett]

i dont think apple is going anywhere in the near or even not so near future .. 100 billion in cash

ill second that while they may do things that are questionable i highly doubt any of us will see apple fail in our lifetimes.

 

[captdroid]

I highly doubt this will hold up in court over time. And eventually this obvious abuse of far to liberal patent system will back fire. No worries and I am still and will likely never be interested in buying Apple products. Only Apple computer I own is an Apple II but that was when Steve Wozniak was at the forefront of a Apple computer that was open and truly innovative.

 

[czerdrill]

Makes it look like Apple is grasping at straws. Steve Jobs is dead and so will Apple, may take a while but they will fizzle out.

Let's not get crazy haha...Apple is going nowhere anytime soon.

If Google were to threaten apple with blocking YouTube on all ios devices, I think apple would quickly change their ways

Well...no. That would take away Google's ability to serve multi millions of customers every quarter with their ad networks. No chance Google would do something that dumb.

Say what you want, but this patent is legit and they have every right to protect their intellectual property.

Like I said, aside from pinch-to-zoom multi-touch ain't all that. But I'd have to imagine Apple will be forced to license for a reasonable fee.

Yep. Like you said, if it doesn't fall under FRAND, then there's not much anyone can do except license the tech from Apple or not use the tech at all. While the patent is broad, and I personally think it should be FRAND, that's not my decision to make. As OTR mentioned, Apple's not doing anything illegal. They're applying for patents, being granted those patents and then protecting their patents.

Google on the other hand is indeed using patents without licensing them and then hoping they can worry about it later. Until some patent reform is made, it doesn't work like that and Google knows it.

 

[jseah]

a right to protect their intellectual property? What about the fact that Steve freely admitted that he wouldn't be what he was if he hadn't stolen ideas. They're a bunch of effing hypocrates. They rip off ideas and then get upset when someone improves something of theirs.

The patent system is an outdated dinosaur, sadly it probably won't change any time soon

In the end, it doesn't matter who invented it first or who stole the idea. All that matters is who is the first to patent it.

Sent from my ADR6400L using DroidForums

 

[FoxKat]

In the end, it doesn't matter who invented it first or who stole the idea. All that matters is who is the first to patent it.

Sent from my ADR6400L using DroidForums

Well not really, because the courts can overturn a patent if they find clear cut evidence that the product existed in its form prior to the patent time done by someone else. Otherwise we wouldn't be having these court battles right now. It would be pretty simple, they would walk in to court, show they own the patent, and walk out with the judgement.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using DroidForums

 

[czerdrill]

Well not really, because the courts can overturn a patent if they find clear cut evidence that the product existed in its form prior to the patent time done by someone else. Otherwise we wouldn't be having these court battles right now. It would be pretty simple, they would walk in to court, show they own the patent, and walk out with the judgement.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using DroidForums

I think what he meant was it doesnt matter if people say "hey they ripped us off!" when granting patents. If you apply for one, and are granted it it's your patent until a court rules otherwise. If prior art exists, it could be invalidated, but saying "it's not fair, that was ours" means nothing if you dont own the patent.

 

[MissionImprobable]

Google has always been a "do now, worry later" company. I know you all think Google is some holy saint that truly lives by their "never do evil" line but Google has always been one to invade your privacy and then change their policies after they get caught for doing so. I think this has transfered over to Android as well, I am not saying Android is a ripped off OS cause I don't believe that at all, but you cannot question how much money Microsoft gets from each Android handset sold because Android used patents that were not theirs and they were forced to sign licensing agreements. Yes some of Apples patents are ridiculous and far too broad but they are still theirs and when Google and the Android OEM's make a device they know which patents they are using that they probably shouldn't, again act now, worry later attitude. Again, the patents as broad as they may be, were awarded to Apple so regardless of what we think, Apple is acting within legal parameters. Now I do hope all this litigation does lead to a complete overhaul of the patent system because it is in desperate need of it. This particular patent shouldn't surprise anyone though, Apple has claimed they invented multitouch since about 2005.

Apple does the same. Most recently, "Hey, let's steal pull down notifications, guys. No worries that clearly we did not invent it." It's gone on from all sides, so let's no pretend Google is a one-trick pony doing something that's never been done before.