Every Android infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock

conolan

Apple has received a confirmed patent for the “slide to unlock” control in use on every Android phone and tablet in existence.

This is patents gone mad. It's a design feature, not an invention. Perhaps the backlash from this might nudge US Congress and others to modify patent law.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-news/every-android-device-now-infringes-apple-patent-slide-to-unlock/5199?tag=mantle_skin;content

iknorr

yeah they were talking about this stuff years ago!

But i agree, its like patenting a door on a car or on your house.

hardCopy

iknorr wrote: »

yeah they were talking about this stuff years ago!

But i agree, its like patenting a door on a car or on your house.

Later losers, i'm off to patent the wheel

robinph

Bit late for them to just be claiming the patent now, and for something so daft. I don't recall having seen a patent pending bit of text on that slidey control on any iPhone either. If they thought it was such a great "invention" then they should have kept it under wraps until they got this patent confirmed.

Meesared

HTCs Samsung's and Sony Ericsson all use a different type of unlock, so they will be fine.

Varik

The neonode n1m had it in 2004 before apple filed anything.

PogMoThoin

Patents are killing innovation, the very thing they set out to protect, the laws badly need changing

Blazer

robinph wrote: »

Bit late for them to just be claiming the patent now, and for something so daft. I don't recall having seen a patent pending bit of text on that slidey control on any iPhone either. If they thought it was such a great "invention" then they should have kept it under wraps until they got this patent confirmed.

They actually claimed the patent before ever releasing the first iphone...
still though as much as I love my iphone it's a ridiculous patent to grant..then again they're probably more dumbass ones out there.

robinph

A touch screen is an invention.

Moving your finger across a touch screen is not.

GUIGuy

Unlike in Europe in the US you can be granted a patent without having to prove there's no prior art.... in theory they do but in reality it's a first to file system. Apples patent was lodged Dec 2005 (well before iPhone) but NeoNode had this feature released in a phone in March 2005 (unveiled in 2004).

However, if Apple were to sue anyone for the general use of gestures to unlock (rather than the specific implementation described) the patent would surely fail.
I'm sure Apple knows this and this patent is just another ruse scare off small guys who can't afford to spend years in court.

I imagine this won't affect their big competitors at all... cross licensing deals should be abolished. They create an in club where those in the club don't have to worry about each other but if you're outside you'd better lawyer up.

Zascar

Apple are so incredibly gay about stuff like this these days

Robxxx7

Pathetic really .... perhaps we should sue apple for using the name of a fruit as their brand .. after all its not theirs .. its a fruit

robinph

Robxxx7 wrote: »

Pathetic really .... perhaps we should sue apple for using the name of a fruit as their brand .. after all its not theirs .. its a fruit

The Beatles were suing them for years over the use of the name, came to a agreement that Apple (Computers) could use the name and apple logo as long as they didn't enter the music business...then they entered the music business.

Although The Beatles were "bigger than god" I don't think they ever tried to claim that they invented the apple before he did. They certainly were using the "Apple" brand name before Jobs and Woz were.

squire23

Zascar wrote: »

Apple are so incredibly gay about stuff like this these days

Best comment ever!

thomasj

conolan wrote: »

Apple has received a confirmed patent for the “slide to unlock” control in use on every Android phone and tablet in existence.

This is patents gone mad. It's a design feature, not an invention. Perhaps the backlash from this might nudge US Congress and others to modify patent law.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/mobile-news/every-android-device-now-infringes-apple-patent-slide-to-unlock/5199?tag=mantle_skin;content

The unlock mechanism on ice cream sandwich resolves this issue

Ste-

Pretty sure apple copied the slide to unlock design

thomasj

Ste- wrote: »

Pretty sure apple copied the slide to unlock design

Any locksmith companies out there willing to chance their arm?!

Keith186

I'm off to patent click to select!

AlmightyCushion

GUIGuy wrote: »

Unlike in Europe in the US you can be granted a patent without having to prove there's no prior art.... in theory they do but in reality it's a first to file system. Apples patent was lodged Dec 2005 (well before iPhone) but NeoNode had this feature released in a phone in March 2005 (unveiled in 2004).

However, if Apple were to sue anyone for the general use of gestures to unlock (rather than the specific implementation described) the patent would surely fail.
I'm sure Apple knows this and this patent is just another ruse scare off small guys who can't afford to spend years in court.

I imagine this won't affect their big competitors at all... cross licensing deals should be abolished. They create an in club where those in the club don't have to worry about each other but if you're outside you'd better lawyer up.

Isn't prior art taken into consideration when there is a lawsuit though? I could have sworn that's how Apple lost their case against Microsoft over use of the GUI.

Inquitus

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Isn't prior art taken into consideration when there is a lawsuit though? I could have sworn that's how Apple lost their case against Microsoft over use of the GUI.

Aye the granting of a patent doesn't mean you can successfully sue for breach of the patent, it merely allows you to bring a case for breach. The defence can then demonstrate that the patent is too broad for instance or can demonstrate prior art etc.

Amalgam

Android 2.2, a legal eagle of some sort could rebuff Apple with maybe the following.. you're not sliding across a designated area, like on the iPhone, you're 'pulling' into the screen a tongue\tab to activate the unlock behaviour.

You're pulling a hidden entity onto a screen display area, rather than sliding over an 'offered' area, like on the iPhone.

Tea_Bag

Pretty sure Apple can go **** themselves.

Android is here to stay baaaby.

PDD

Of course Apple are resorting to patent mud slinging because they are loosing market share and rapidly at that :-P

Besides in the US where Patents are issued like toilet paper despite being nonsensical (Microsoft own a patent for the OK / CANCEL UI) its interesting to note is only ever the big boys that get to claim ridiculous patents where as smaller companies are told to cop on simply because the big boys have the cash to hire armies of lawyers and grease the wheels.

If Apple were a person they'd be terribly insecure :-)

Jimoslimos

Uhhhhhhhhh!!!!

It feels somewhat dirty and good at the same time to be doing something Apple disproves off. I'm a bad, bad boy - punish me Apple!