Apple vs Samsung US Ruling

[JD Gumby]

And Apple manages to get a US judge to side with them, despite the only similiarity between the iPad and Galaxy Tab 10.1 being that they are both flat rectangles (aspect ratio of the rectangles, case designs, native orientation, and UIs all being different; even my 64 year old mother, who has trouble doing anything on her smartphone other than making calls and playing Bejeweled, can tell them apart at a glance).

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/...galaxy-tab-101

[Ekaros]

Desing patents and obvious software patents are evil...

Trademarks are ok, but how are you going to make touch screen devices that don't look a like? Flat surface with screen and borders around...

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by Ekaros

Desing patents and obvious software patents are evil...

Not to mention the design patent in question is ridiculously generic and should never have been granted in the first place.

[HistoryWes]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

Not to mention the design patent in question is ridiculously generic and should never have been granted in the first place.

I think that's really the problem. These companies seem to be able to patent just about any idea despite how obvous it is, whether it's been done before, or whether another company already has a patent that should cover the that idea. It seems like patent reform would pay off in the resulting unclogging in the judicial system, at least.

[teh603]

Originally Posted by HistoryWes

I think that's really the problem. These companies seem to be able to patent just about any idea despite how obvous it is, whether it's been done before, or whether another company already has a patent that should cover the that idea. It seems like patent reform would pay off in the resulting unclogging in the judicial system, at least.

Realistically speaking, is patent reform even possible in the current political climate?

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by teh603

Realistically speaking, is patent reform even possible in the current political climate?

Sure, all that needs to happen is for politicians to reform the current system that is being abused to the benefit of those who pay for the politicians. Why should that be difficult...

[RainingLemur]

It's no coincidence that Samsung's latest products look a lot like the Iphone and Ipad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging.

So... Rectangular devices with touch-screen interfaces that are packaged in cardboard boxes?

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by RainingLemur

So... Rectangular devices with touch-screen interfaces that are packaged in cardboard boxes?

After all, Apple invented the rectangle, touch screen, and cardboard box. We can't let other companies steal all of Apple's hard work.

[teh603]

Originally Posted by Shaggy

After all, Apple invented the rectangle, touch screen, and cardboard box. We can't let other companies steal all of Apple's hard work.

Wasn't there a Supreme Court decision a while ago that killed the Doctrine of Prior Art?

[sabredog]

Well Apple tried that stupidity on in Australia and lost. Now the ACCC are having a good hard look at some of Apple's practices and claims, including their advertising that the iPad3 was capable of 4G connectivity in Australia when in practice it was not.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by sabredog

including their advertising that the iPad3 was capable of 4G connectivity in Australia when in practice it was not.

Did they really say that? In their UK adverts they said "4G" with an asterisk alongside it, and a footnote which said "in the US and Canada only", or something of the sort. Did they actually say in Australia that it would work with Australian 4G networks?

[sabredog]

They did Harry, which is why they coped the attentions of the ACCC, fined and had to make a formal apology to purchasers of the iPad3.

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/06/ap...doesnt-matter/

[HarryT]

Thanks. The Advertising Standards "watchdog" here in the UK also made them change their wording, but I don't think they were fined, because we don't have any 4G networks here in the UK yet, hence nobody lost out as a result.

[rdfry]

Well now the Galaxy Nexus has been temporarily banned. This garbage from Apple needs to end.

[ScotiaBurrell]

2014 trial date

In her ruling, Koh said that Apple had clearly shown that it is likely to suffer irreparable harm unless it was awarded injunctive relief.

Since American judges don't issue preliminary injunctions in these kinds of cases lightly, this decision, and one earlier this week against Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet doesn't bode well for the Korean company that is also a major producer of components for Apple products.

Those patents are related to "data tapping," Siri and unified search, slide to unlock, and word completion on a touchscreen.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/25863...s_for_now.html