Apple granted broad UI patent

[RainingLemur]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonyk...mesis-android/
http://www.androidauthority.com/appl...ndroid-101778/

The patent describes a “portable electronic device, method, and graphical user interface for displaying electronic lists and documents,” and we could see it included in a variety of patent-based legal clashes in which Apple is either suing or being sued by an Android device maker – and the company is fighting the most important ones, Samsung, HTC and Google-Motorola.

Why is this patent so important for iOS and Android? Well, basically USPTO acknowledged Apple’s innovation when it comes to smartphones being able to display documents and other elements on the screen and allow the user to interact with them.

Spoiler:

[Fluribus]

Be fair to Apple. No one has ever displayed something on a screen before. Throw in the ability to interact with that which is displayed... And lists! These innovations are unparalleled in the annals of history. Apple deserves not only a patent, but an eternal patent.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Fluribus

Be fair to Apple. No one has ever displayed something on a screen before. Throw in the ability to interact with that which is displayed... And lists! These innovations are unparalleled in the annals of history. Apple deserves not only a patent, but an eternal patent.

[QuantumIguana]

Originally Posted by Fluribus

Be fair to Apple. No one has ever displayed something on a screen before. Throw in the ability to interact with that which is displayed... And lists! These innovations are unparalleled in the annals of history. Apple deserves not only a patent, but an eternal patent.

I've always wanted a "portable electronic device, method, and graphical user interface for displaying electronic lists and documents". Until now, I've never had any ability to display lists and documents portably. Thanks, Apple!

Seriously, some of these patents companies getting are getting ridiculous. What's next, patenting a system of enclosing fried ground beef between two slabs of bread?

[covfam]

Apple should retroactivly sue Palm for thier famous PDA's that were "portable electronic devices that had graphical user interfaces that displayed lists!" 10 years before apple made released IOS .. or the NERVE of Psion to release a pda that was a "portable electronic device with graphical user interface that displayed lists and documents" 30years before IOS existed and 5 years before apples failed Newton atempt!

I love apple devices but man the the corporation is getting disgusting with its extremly vague and broad generic patents and finding retated patent officiale to grant them patents on these "inventions"

[Lynx-lynx]

Gee, don't the lawyers do well in Patents law!!!

The lawyers are the ONLY winners, and the global downturn didn't seem to diminish their capacity to engage companies in pursuing legal actions with the assurance of 'we'll beat 'em, it's something we ought to fight'!!!

[SeaKing]

I keep wondering if Apple will patent eyeballs looking at a screen. With the above, it seems a logical next step.

[plib]

Originally Posted by SeaKing

I keep wondering if Apple will patent eyeballs looking at a screen. With the above, it seems a logical next step.

Why restrict yourself to looking at a screen? I see them just going for the whole eyeball, and adding fingers for the touch screen.

[Dopedangel]

Many of the software patents that are being issued these days are like someone patenting the wheel. America says it want to protect innovation etc but at the end of the day they are just letting big companies muscle out the little guy from the space.
The next few years were going to be of custom gadgets like we have seen projects from kickstarter. And many of these product etc will be blocked or stopped because of frivolous patents.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by plib

Why restrict yourself to looking at a screen? I see them just going for the whole eyeball, and adding fingers for the touch screen.

Is "Retina" trademarked? All biology professors should pay Apple for using the word when teaching about the structure of the eye.

[wodin]

Patent clerks are like judges, some of them are for sale and others invent the theory of relativity.

[teh603]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

Many of the software patents that are being issued these days are like someone patenting the wheel. America says it want to protect innovation etc but at the end of the day they are just letting big companies muscle out the little guy from the space.
The next few years were going to be of custom gadgets like we have seen projects from kickstarter. And many of these product etc will be blocked or stopped because of frivolous patents.

Let's face it, America ain't what it used to be. We fought two world wars and numerous other conflicts to make a world that was safe for big business, and now big business wants even more.

[ScotiaBurrell]

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/...nt-gui-iphone/

Back in 2007, handset makers like RIM were adding more physical buttons for users to access the increasing amount of information on a mobile device, which resulted in “complicated key sequences and menu hierarchies that must be memorized by the user.”

Apple’s touch-only interfaces were designed to provide a more transparent and intuitive experience that would increase user satisfaction and efficiency as they navigate through the device’s menu system.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/...nt-gui-iphone/

That may have been what makers 'like RIM' were doing, but Palm certainly wasn't.

Graham

[ScotiaBurrell]

according to wikipedia apple has file for 200 patents on iphone.