Apple win swipe to unlock patent case

Cobbydaler · 16-02-2012, 19:32

Yet another ridiculous case brought by Apple:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17058508

The Galaxy S had swipe to unlock in March 2010 when it was launched. This patent wasn't even granted until March 2010.

Patent Link

martyh · 16-02-2012, 19:44

I've just finished reading this on the BBC site and straight away thought just about every touch screen phone has a swipe to unlock feature on it

**Stuart** · 16-02-2012, 19:45

However, the patent was filed in November 2006. Are patents valid from the date of grant, or the date of the first filing, if granted?

Of course, Samsung could try doing something original. That might stop these cases.

danielf · 16-02-2012, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

However, the patent was filed in November 2006. Are patents valid from the date of grant, or the date of the first filing, if granted?

Of course, Samsung could try doing something original. That might stop these cases.

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but surely swiping the screen is simply the most logical way to unlock a touch screen? What's next, a patent for buttons being pressed?

Cobbydaler · 16-02-2012, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

However, the patent was filed in November 2006. Are patents valid from the date of grant, or the date of the first filing, if granted?

Of course, Samsung could try doing something original. That might stop these cases.

It wasn't brought against Samsung but against Motorola. I used Samsung as an example of another company using the technology that wasn't litigated against.

Apple could try accepting competition and moving on.

Even Microsoft comes to agreements over patents instead of pursuing litigation willy nilly...

chris9991 · 16-02-2012, 19:50

Before the iPhone was there any other phone that had a 'swipe' - I seem to recall Apple were first; prior to the iPhone all touchscreen phones/devices had to be waked by pressing a button first

(though I might be wrong on all this)

**Stuart** · 16-02-2012, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but surely swiping the screen is simply the most logical way to unlock a touch screen? What's next, a patent for buttons being pressed?

I had three touch screen phones before the iPhone was out. Logical or not, none of them offered a swipe to unlock option.

Then the iPhone did it, and suddenly every phone offered that option.

danielf · 16-02-2012, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

I had three touch screen phones before the iPhone was out. Logical or not, none of them offered a swipe to unlock option.

Then the iPhone did it, and suddenly every phone offered that option.

Yeah, I suppose it's logical when someone's thinks of it, but I wouldn't really call it a technological advance. I'm probably being naive here, but common sense would suggest that granting a patent required a little more innovation than simply using existing features of existing technology?

martyh · 16-02-2012, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but surely swiping the screen is simply the most logical way to unlock a touch screen? What's next, a patent for buttons being pressed?

Thats what i thought ,i am hard pressed to think of another way of unlocking a touch screen ,my nokia has it too

colin25 · 16-02-2012, 20:29

I worry that apple (the company) might claim that edible variety of apples (apple from tree) are transgressing their brand, and demand they are called something else, just in case they invent the edible phone (don't laugh, if they can eat underwear, they can eat anything)

If that happens, i vote for Newton fruit...it just fell from the sky

Cobbydaler · 16-02-2012, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but surely swiping the screen is simply the most logical way to unlock a touch screen? What's next, a patent for buttons being pressed?

Exactly; press button, something happens, patent it...

Touch screen, something happens, patent it...

---------- Post added at 21:34 ---------- Previous post was at 21:30 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin25

I worry that apple (the company) might claim that edible variety of apples (apple from tree) are transgressing their brand, and demand they are called something else, just in case they invent the edible phone (don't laugh, if they can eat underwear, they can eat anything)

If that happens, i vote for Newton fruit...it just fell from the sky

Unfortunately, they've also got claims in for Granny Smith, Cox's Orange Pippin, Braemar, French Delicious, Golden Delicious...

cookie_365 · 17-02-2012, 17:14

This is an example of why I will never, ever buy an Apple product.

danielf · 17-02-2012, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookie_365

This is an example of why I will never, ever buy an Apple product.

I'm not sure if Apple is to blame here. It seems to me that the rules on what design features are patentable might need looking at. Don't blame businesses for doing what is allowed by the rules.

DocDutch · 17-02-2012, 18:31

Daniel it is starting to become a farce though as at the moment apple has probably got more lawyers working for it than research and development types. It is becoming a joke as apple keeps suing over patent breaches for anything possible

what i wish is say Google with the patents they got from motorala really starts to ste them back just as hard

**Matt D** · 17-02-2012, 18:35

As I said in the thread about Apple's profits, it is far from the only company engaging in what appear to be ridiculous patent lawsuits. They are all doing it.

This is from last August. It's probably even more of a mess now...

http://blog.thomsonreuters.com/index...ic-of-the-day/