News: Apple granted broad patent on multitouch screens

Desperate Fantast

Bad news, copycats.

Quote:

Apple this week was awarded an iPhone-related patent first filed in December of 2007, a victory that intellectual property experts believe will be significant.

On Tuesday, Apple was granted U.S. Patent No 7,966,578, entitled "Portable multifunction device, method, and graphical user interface for translating displayed content." And patent experts who spoke with PC Magazine said Apple's ownership of the invention could allow it to "bully" its rivals.

The story by author Damon Poeter characterized the patent as a "huge blow" to companies like HTC, Samsung, Motorola, Research in Motion and Nokia, who make competing smartphones with touchscreen displays.

"Apple's patent essentially gives it ownership of the capacitive multitouch interface the company pioneered with its iPhone, said one source who has been involved involved in intellectual property litigation on similar matters," the report said. "That's like to produce a new round of lawsuits over the now-ubiquitous multitouch interfaces used in smartphones."

The article noted that it's likely Apple could license its invention to other companies, earning the Cupertino, Calif., company a "tidy new income stream" from its rivals.

Over the years, Apple has been granted numerous patents related to multitouch (1, 2), and has even used its ownership of those inventions to take on its rivals in court. Late last year, Apple countersued Motorola, accusing the company of violating six patents related to multitouch.

Similarly, after HTC and Google brought multitouch features to the Android mobile operating system with the Nexus One smartphone, Apple filed a lawsuit against HTC. Apple has alleged that functionality within Android is in violation of patents Apple owns related to the iPhone.

Apple's latest intellectual property victory is particularly significant given that the current highly competitive smartphone landscape is fraught with litigation. Apple is currently engaged in a lawsuit with rival Samsung, in which it has accused Samsung of copying the look and feel of the iPhone and iPad.

Apple also recently settled its patent dispute with Finnish handset maker Nokia. To conclude their lengthy legal battle, Apple agreed to pay licensing fees to Nokia.

NEUTRON

Poor Microsoft.

THIS is how you do it. This is the exact reason I bought an iPhone over any other touch screen device. Apple started the trend so they'll always have the upper hand at innovation IMO.

Graduation

I really don't see this affecting anyone with a smart phone other than iPhone ... Apple would be out of their mind to try and ban all other devices... All this means is that apple is the originator and all the other companies followed in their footsteps.

Beatfreak

What does this mean for HTC/Google/Samsung phones that have already been sold to consumers?

GaGaFan

Quote:

Originally posted by Beatfreak

What does this mean for HTC/Google/Samsung phones that have already been sold to consumers?

Nothing. There is no possible "fix" for already released products. It will only impact future releases.

Doc

I don't really like this. I don't like monopoly.

Healthy competition is good. It's not like Apple's losing it's number one spot anytime soon anyways.

ThankMeLater

Can't wait for iPhone 5 in September, my HTC Hero sucks!

Desperate Fantast

Quote:

Originally posted by Good_Doc_Gone_Bad

I don't really like this. I don't like monopoly.

Healthy competition is good. It's not like Apple's losing it's number one spot anytime soon anyways.

Think of it this way, now the copycats are finally forced to pick up their lazy asses and do something innovative. I don't expect them to come up with something groundbreaking but you never know. Let the REAL competition begin.

D/X

Quote:

Originally posted by Good_Doc_Gone_Bad

I don't really like this. I don't like monopoly.

Healthy competition is good. It's not like Apple's losing it's number one spot anytime soon anyways.

Those were exactly my thoughts,

Quote:

Originally posted by Desperate Fantast

Think of it this way, now the copycats are finally forced to pick up their lazy asses and do something innovative. I don't expect them to come up with something groundbreaking but you never know. Let the REAL competition begin.

but you have a point. Just look at the tablets, everyone releasing tablets just after Apple announced the iPad.

It's just what happens in videogames, Microsoft worked that mind and they created Kinect, while Sony just made a blatant ass rip-off of the Wii.

Still, I don't think this will work in any way.