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Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

unwiredview.com

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Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#51

Post by brianpan »

fredpeters wrote: post #23
tvon wrote: post #14

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

If this is an analogy to sport and say the sport is baby killing. Then I can hate the game and the player. You have a choice to get involved in the game. If this as an analogy to drug dealing. I agree that you should not hate the players, as they have no choice. However, I am allowed to hate the drug lord(s).

If the patent system was working correctly, it would be protecting inventors. That's not exactly killing babies. And I don't think refusing to obtain patents while other companies can and will use them is a viable option.

Not trying to single you out fredpeters, but this whole thread is out of control. :/

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#53

Post by ThomPete »

theBobMcCormick wrote: post #50
natrius wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not a useful comparison. Companies aren't run like governments, where democracy is usually held as the ideal. The comment wasn't useful, but it was inflammatory. I don't think the commenter had bad intentions, but I agree with stanleydrew's judgment.

I've actually been wondering a lot lately why isn't democracy held as an ideal for companies? With the amount of power that large corporations have, why do we as a society not hold them to higher standards and require them to be governed more democratically?

Because the nothing would ever be done.

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#54

Post by die_sekte »

sachinag wrote: post #32
jlgosse wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This can only mean one of two things: Either Apple is being extremely hostile and alienating one of their top developers, or they are preparing themselves for an acquisition of taptaptap in the immediate future.

They'd have to pry it from Disney.

That should not be that hard. Steve Jobs is the single largest shareholder of Disney and on Disney's board.

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#55

Post by jmaygarden »

sahaj wrote: post #31
metachris wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, it's just blatently ripped off! Wonder what else they got "inspired" by... Direct links to the images: taptaptap: http://taptaptap.com/img/screenshot/whereto/1.jpg the patent: http://www.unwiredview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Apple-... (upper right "mockup")

maybe they are trying to protect the app, so that folks on other platforms (cough-google-cough) don't rip it off?

If a patent is filed by someone other than the inventor then it is void. They would have to put the taptaptap people on the patent.

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#56

Post by chc »

smiler wrote: 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

Given Apple's suits against HTC for using Android, I see no good reason to give them the benefit of the doubt like that.

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#57

Post by jsz0 »

spoiledtechie wrote: post #8
asnyder wrote: 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?

What type of company wouldn't be classified as a socialist dictatorship in your analogy? Government and business are two entirely different things. (another good reason to be skeptical of politicians who run on their experience as a CEO)

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#58

Post by unfletch »

metachris wrote: post #20
Timothee wrote: post #10

One thing that surprises me in the images was that one of them is exactly "Where to?" by tap tap tap: http://taptaptap.com/#whereto

Wow, it's just blatently ripped off! Wonder what else they got "inspired" by... Direct links to the images: taptaptap: http://taptaptap.com/img/screenshot/whereto/1.jpg the patent: http://www.unwiredview.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Apple-... (upper right "mockup")

That's a cropped image. The actual patent image is here: http://aiw1.uspto.gov:80/.DImg?Docid=20100190510&PageNum... (Open it in something that supports TIFF if your browser doesn't display it. Photoshop worked for me.)

In the un-cropped version you can see that the image is labeled #602. Here's the only part of the patent body where 602 is referenced:

  For example, an interface such as interface 602 can be provided on
  a user's electronic device. Through interface 602, a user can
  search for and view information on the  various airport services
  available in the airport.
It might not have been proper for Apple to copy another company's work for illustration in their patent, but the copied UI is for illustration of one possible UI for the described app. IANAL, but it doesn't read to me like they're trying to claim invention of the UI.

Re: Apple starts patenting mobile app ideas

#59

Post by jsz0 »

Why do people expect Apple to play by different rules? If they are developing these applications to be released in 8 months they're potentially in a bad spot if someone else patents them 2 months from now. What they choose to do after they are granted the patent is a separate issue. Patent reform in general is yet another issue. It's like complaining that the away team hits a technical free throw in a basketball. That's just how the game is played these days.
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