Apple posts its UK apology to Samsung • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple posts its UK apology to Samsung

#21

Post by amvp » Fri, Oct 26, 2012, 8:52 AM UTC

duiker101 wrote: post #5

"A judge said we must apology because we are cooler and so Samsung didn't copy because they aren't cool. But other judges said that we are cooler and Samsung still copied us! So we must be right!" Sincerely: a 6 year old.

Didn't the order require the statement to be:

  1. Made on the home page itself
  2. In a 14pt font which (according to http://www.getallfix.com/2011/11/convert-empxpt-and-in-css/) should be some 19px high.

Instead this is a link to the statement (in a div with the class sosume - little gag there) in a 11px font size... not to mention the fact that the additional paragraphs after the statement itself somewhat go against the spirit of the order.

Re: Apple posts its UK apology to Samsung

#22

Post by kidsat » Fri, Oct 26, 2012, 8:54 AM UTC

theallan wrote: post #13

jofo25 wrote: post #7

I thought they were required to in some way make the apology visible on their home page?

It is on the Apple UK homepage - right at the bottom: http://www.apple.com/uk/ ("Samsung/Apple UK judgement" link). Wonderfully its in a 'div' with a class 'sosumi'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sosumi

Re: Apple posts its UK apology to Samsung

#23

Post by barbs » Fri, Oct 26, 2012, 8:55 AM UTC

joahua wrote: post #8

dakrisht wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. Lol. Aren't they [Apple] supposed to prominently display the judge's order on the homepage?!

It's in the footer… on the homepage, but only scarcely. http://www.apple.com/uk/

Wow. That's pathetic.

Re: Apple posts its UK apology to Samsung

#24

Post by tallanvor » Fri, Oct 26, 2012, 8:55 AM UTC

jofo25 wrote: post #7

I thought they were required to in some way make the apology visible on their home page?

Based on the wording of the order, it would seem that the statement should be on their homepage, not a link to it. Of course, I'm sure Apple's legal counsel has decided their actions are within the scope of the ruling, so we'll have to see if Samsung asks a judge to declare them not in compliance with the order.

Re: Apple posts its UK apology to Samsung

#25

Post by pervycreeper » Fri, Oct 26, 2012, 8:57 AM UTC

duiker101 wrote: post #5

"A judge said we must apology because we are cooler and so Samsung didn't copy because they aren't cool. But other judges said that we are cooler and Samsung still copied us! So we must be right!" Sincerely: a 6 year old.

One would think that a company with $.12 trillion in the bank could afford to be classy once in a while.

Re: Apple posts its UK apology to Samsung

#26

Post by mrud » Fri, Oct 26, 2012, 8:57 AM UTC

k-mcgrady wrote: post #16

Is there a reason the OP thinks this is the apology? It isn't named as such, the URL doesn't help, and they don't apologise at all. It's just a summary of their legal battles with Samsung. How has the OP come to the conclusion this is the apology (am I missing something)?

http://www.apple.com/uk/ links to it (at the bottom, the link title is Samsung/Apple UK judgement)

Re: Apple posts its UK apology to Samsung

#27

Post by smegel » Fri, Oct 26, 2012, 8:58 AM UTC

I don't really get why everyone is so down on Apple on HN (I am a Google/Android user FWIW).

Sure they have pursued some questionable patent cases - but it is hard to deny they are one of the pre-eminent creators and makers in the world today - they have been truly innovative and brought massive change to multiple technology streams. They are about as far from being a hoarding patent troll as one could imagine yet that is how they seem to be portrayed in some parts of social media.

Even if you strongly disagree with their approach to suing competitors, I would have thought the real innovation and change Apple has brought to the scene would count for something and result in some more balanced coverage.

I think some of the specific patent cases Apple is pursuing against Samsung are a bit ridiculous (rounded corners), but I also think when you look at what Samsung has done as a whole, it is pretty clear they were ripping off Apple designs for a while (try and play spot the difference between a Apple 3GS and a Galaxy S1). Maybe Apple had to pursue the more silly specific patent cases because there was no way to patent the overall look-and-feel of a device (no lawyer here).

Anyway just my 2c

Re: Apple posts its UK apology to Samsung

#28

Post by Nursie » Fri, Oct 26, 2012, 9:01 AM UTC

amvp wrote: post #21

duiker101 wrote: post #5

"A judge said we must apology because we are cooler and so Samsung didn't copy because they aren't cool. But other judges said that we are cooler and Samsung still copied us! So we must be right!" Sincerely: a 6 year old.

Didn't the order require the statement to be: 1. Made on the home page itself 2. In a 14pt font which (according to http://www.getallfix.com/2011/11/convert-empxpt-and-in-css/) should be some 19px high. Instead this is a link to the statement (in a div with the class sosume - little gag there) in a 11px font size... not to mention the fact that the additional paragraphs after the statement itself somewhat go against…

It says websites, it does then go on to give URL's, but these are the top level URLs for various EU countries, so I guess they could argue it is on their website.

Open to interpretation, IMHO, though I would have assumed the judge meant the front pages.

Re: Apple posts its UK apology to Samsung

#29

Post by zevyoura » Fri, Oct 26, 2012, 9:03 AM UTC

smegel wrote: post #27

I don't really get why everyone is so down on Apple on HN (I am a Google/Android user FWIW). Sure they have pursued some questionable patent cases - but it is hard to deny they are one of the pre-eminent creators and makers in the world today - they have been truly innovative and brought massive change to multiple technology streams. They are about as far from being a hoarding patent troll as one could imagine yet th…

I think in this case, the story is more about Apple's disregard for the spirit of the court order than being down on Apple in general. I'm generally an Apple fan, but this seems kind of petty and oddly antagonistic towards the court.

Re: Apple posts its UK apology to Samsung

#30

Post by shanelja » Fri, Oct 26, 2012, 9:04 AM UTC

pervycreeper wrote: post #25

duiker101 wrote: post #5

"A judge said we must apology because we are cooler and so Samsung didn't copy because they aren't cool. But other judges said that we are cooler and Samsung still copied us! So we must be right!" Sincerely: a 6 year old.

One would think that a company with $.12 trillion in the bank could afford to be classy once in a while.

Apple tends to be fairly ruthless in their dealings with other companies and act without remorse (like many other companies, Samsung of course included) and it's become the only way to survive in the horrific world of IP law suits.

Unfortunately, the class you mention tends to be overshadowed by this. Apple can't afford to be classy, if it gives up it's bullying ways for even a short period of time, it will find that Samsung responds not in kind, but will sense weakness and launch an even stronger offence.

What we have now is a case of mutually assured destruction, eventually both companies will be so wrapped up in legal dealings and spiteful actions that they will lose sight on what's really important: giving your customers cool and functional gadgets to play with, which as well as being bad for both of these companies is also bad for the industry and we, the consumers.