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Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

unwiredview.com

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Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#2
The article only looks at it from the 'Apple is evil' perspective. I wonder if Apple are patenting these purely so that others can't and thereby allowing freedom for developers to develop these apps without worrying about patent infringement

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#3
post #2

The article only looks at it from the 'Apple is evil' perspective. I wonder if Apple are patenting these purely so that others can't and thereby allowing freedom for developers to develop these apps without worrying about patent infringement

Right.

Because Apple never capriciously brings down the hammer on the small guy.

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#4
post #2

The article only looks at it from the 'Apple is evil' perspective. I wonder if Apple are patenting these purely so that others can't and thereby allowing freedom for developers to develop these apps without worrying about patent infringement

I'm looking at this from the "ANYONE who tries to patent generic ideas is evil" perspective.

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#5
For years I've said that Apple is by far one of the scariest software companies out there.

The enthusiasm for their products and CEO seems to have a blinding effect on the very same people that would normally be up in arms.

I think it would be an interesting social experiment to outline many of their business practices without mention of the products, company or brand, even possibly an alias, or dummy co. and survey their hardcore base for opinion of the company.

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#7
As bad as this seems, the best thing you can do as an aspiring developer is ignore it completely, and do whatever you're going to do anyway.

The only way these patents are going to matter to you is if you hit it big enough to be worth taking to court -- it's a millionaire problem. Even then, there are lots of steps between "patent granted" and "patent successfully defended in court". You're so far from that point that it's not even worth thinking about this kind of crap.

Also, before you bust out your pitchforks and torches, put your logic hat on for a second: this doesn't make any sense as an offensive move. The patent system is broken and everybody knows it. And as a result, any responsible tech company with sufficient resources must play the same game of mutual self-destruction. Meanwhile, Apple has a vested interest in cultivating a developer community. Patent trolls could easily kill that community. If Apple didn't patent ideas like this, some patent troll in Texas would, and the situation would be much worse for small developers.

Obviously, I don't know if Apple is being defensive or offensive here, but it's pretty difficult to imagine them going from retail hardware company to professional patent troll. Again, it doesn't make sense as an offensive move.

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#8
post #5

For years I've said that Apple is by far one of the scariest software companies out there. The enthusiasm for their products and CEO seems to have a blinding effect on the very same people that would normally be up in arms. I think it would be an interesting social experiment to outline many of their business practices without mention of the products, company or brand, even possibly an alias, or dummy co. and survey…

You have to think about it. If Apple were a type of government, what type would they be?

Wait, Ill let you guess.

Socialist Dictatorship. Think about how closed they are as a system... Would you really want a Socialist Dictatorship running your country?

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#9
post #5

For years I've said that Apple is by far one of the scariest software companies out there. The enthusiasm for their products and CEO seems to have a blinding effect on the very same people that would normally be up in arms. I think it would be an interesting social experiment to outline many of their business practices without mention of the products, company or brand, even possibly an alias, or dummy co. and survey…

You have to think about it. If Apple were a type of government, what type would they be? Wait, Ill let you guess. Socialist Dictatorship. Think about how closed they are as a system... Would you really want a Socialist Dictatorship running your country?

Depends on who is in charge. Not sure if it fits your description, but Singapore is analogous for Apple, and I'd live there.
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