Apple wins patent victory over HTC

afa · 12-21-2011, 01:51 AM

But don't worry, it's not so bad.

They only won one of the 10 patent infringement claims they had originally filed for. According to one analyst, "this ruling will represent absolutely no disruption at all to HTC's business in the U.S."

Here's the article:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57...ng-import-ban/

HarryT · 12-21-2011, 02:00 AM

The patent concerned was Apple's automatic recognition of certain items in text; eg, if a text item contains a telephone number, the iPhone will make it a hyperlink that will dial the number if you tap it. If text says "next Wednesday", you get a hyperlink which creates a calendar entry for next Wednesday, and so on. HTC had copied this feature from the iPhone, but have now agreed to remove it.

Lalilulelo · 12-21-2011, 02:11 AM

Patenting hyperlinks in email. How ridiculous.

HarryT · 12-21-2011, 02:15 AM

No, it's not the hyperlinks that were patented; it was the idea of smart recognition of items in text that can be converted into useful hyperlinks. That doesn't strike me as at all ridiculous.

Giggleton · 12-21-2011, 03:05 AM

It's a garbage patent, but then again all patents are garbage.

Lalilulelo · 12-21-2011, 03:09 AM

Well aside from the fancy terminology of useful links and smart recognition, I don't see how combining a text parser to hypertext makes for a more appropriable idea than when either system is used alone. I hope my web browser isn't paying Apple when it directs emailto clicks to thunderbird, phone numbers to skype and podcast links to an audio player.

tubemonkey · 12-21-2011, 03:38 AM

Stupid article. I hate articles like that. The subject isn't even identified until half-way through it.

HarryT · 12-21-2011, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalilulelo

Well aside from the fancy terminology of useful links and smart recognition, I don't see how combining a text parser to hypertext makes for a more appropriable idea than when either system is used alone.

You may not think so, but the fact is that no Smartphone did this until Apple came up with the idea. Sometimes the best ideas are obvious in hindsight, but it still takes someone to come up with them in the first place, and the law (at least in the US) says that the person who comes up with the idea has certain rights to it, and that other people can't copy it without their permission.

HarryT · 12-21-2011, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Stupid article. I hate articles like that. The subject isn't even identified until half-way through it.

That's why I explained what it was about

.

BWinmill · 12-21-2011, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, it's not the hyperlinks that were patented; it was the idea of smart recognition of items in text that can be converted into useful hyperlinks. That doesn't strike me as at all ridiculous.

The sophisticated idea is the "smart recognition of items in text", which is based upon 50 year old computer science research. The "converted into useful hyperlinks" bit (which is the basis of the patent) may have been a novel idea at the time (the patent is from 1996) but should be considered obvious (it amounts to placing the data into the data structures that the software uses for URLs).

At any rate, this amounts to a five or six year setback for a minor feature. It isn't like some industries, that have been set back 20 years over patents that are just being sat on.

rhadin · 12-21-2011, 05:15 AM

The one thing Apple and its former head paranoic constantly forget/forgot is that few of Apple's success stories were original to Apple. Jobs was, himself, an idea thief, largely from Xerox. Jobs improved on the many of the ideas but did not originate them. Jobs was proof of the old saying that it takes a thief to spot a thief.

Kevin8or · 12-21-2011, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, it's not the hyperlinks that were patented; it was the idea of smart recognition of items in text that can be converted into useful hyperlinks. That doesn't strike me as at all ridiculous.

HTC shouldn't be able to copy Apple's code, but they should be free to create their own code to implement the same idea. IMHO, of course. Sometimes it's hard to stomach the stuff I read about copyrights and patents.

HarryT · 12-21-2011, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin8or

HTC shouldn't be able to copy Apple's code, but they should be free to create their own code to implement the same idea. IMHO, of course. Sometimes it's hard to stomach the stuff I read about copyrights and patents.

That's the thing, though, about these "obvious" ideas: they are obvious only in hindsight. Yes, it may seem obvious to convert anything that looks like a phone number into something that you can tap on to dial the number, but the fact is that it's Apple who first thought of the idea, and that gives them rights to it.

Kevin8or · 12-21-2011, 05:30 AM

There's nothing new about the idea, is there? Apple may have been the first to add it to smart phones, but a similar kind of data recongnition must have a prior history in various computer applications.

karunaji · 12-21-2011, 05:48 AM

It is obvious and I am sure that the only reason why it wasn't used previously, is that it doesn't work too well. The Skype plugin does the same thing by converting phone numbers in your browser to clickable links to make calls. It is quite annoying and danderous feature because sometimes a regular number is confused with a phone number.

These patent wars are absolute disgrace in the age of reason. They only distract from real improvements. Where are feature rich e-ink readers?

12-21-2011, 01:51 AM	#1
afa The Forgotten Posts: 1,136 Karma: 4689999 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dubai Device: Kindle Paperwhite; Nook HD; Sony Xperia Z3 Compact	Apple wins patent victory over HTC But don't worry, it's not so bad. They only won one of the 10 patent infringement claims they had originally filed for. According to one analyst, "this ruling will represent absolutely no disruption at all to HTC's business in the U.S." Here's the article: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57...ng-import-ban/

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12-21-2011, 02:00 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The patent concerned was Apple's automatic recognition of certain items in text; eg, if a text item contains a telephone number, the iPhone will make it a hyperlink that will dial the number if you tap it. If text says "next Wednesday", you get a hyperlink which creates a calendar entry for next Wednesday, and so on. HTC had copied this feature from the iPhone, but have now agreed to remove it.

12-21-2011, 02:11 AM	#3
Lalilulelo Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 7298 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Algeria Device: Sony PRS-T1	Patenting hyperlinks in email. How ridiculous.

12-21-2011, 02:15 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No, it's not the hyperlinks that were patented; it was the idea of smart recognition of items in text that can be converted into useful hyperlinks. That doesn't strike me as at all ridiculous.

12-21-2011, 03:05 AM	#5
Giggleton Banned Posts: 1,687 Karma: 4368191 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oregon Device: Kindle3	It's a garbage patent, but then again all patents are garbage.

12-21-2011, 03:09 AM	#6
Lalilulelo Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 7298 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Algeria Device: Sony PRS-T1	Well aside from the fancy terminology of useful links and smart recognition, I don't see how combining a text parser to hypertext makes for a more appropriable idea than when either system is used alone. I hope my web browser isn't paying Apple when it directs emailto clicks to thunderbird, phone numbers to skype and podcast links to an audio player.

12-21-2011, 03:38 AM	#7
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,762 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Stupid article. I hate articles like that. The subject isn't even identified until half-way through it.

12-21-2011, 05:15 AM	#11
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	The one thing Apple and its former head paranoic constantly forget/forgot is that few of Apple's success stories were original to Apple. Jobs was, himself, an idea thief, largely from Xerox. Jobs improved on the many of the ideas but did not originate them. Jobs was proof of the old saying that it takes a thief to spot a thief.

12-21-2011, 05:30 AM	#14
Kevin8or Guru Posts: 977 Karma: 43409226 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Bay Area, CA Device: Kindle 3	There's nothing new about the idea, is there? Apple may have been the first to add it to smart phones, but a similar kind of data recongnition must have a prior history in various computer applications.

12-21-2011, 05:48 AM	#15
karunaji Evangelist Posts: 421 Karma: 1033566 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Latvia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Bookeen Opus	It is obvious and I am sure that the only reason why it wasn't used previously, is that it doesn't work too well. The Skype plugin does the same thing by converting phone numbers in your browser to clickable links to make calls. It is quite annoying and danderous feature because sometimes a regular number is confused with a phone number. These patent wars are absolute disgrace in the age of reason. They only distract from real improvements. Where are feature rich e-ink readers?

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