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Among the more absurd patent claims being litigated: "Unlocking A Device By Performing Gestures On An Unlock Image"

Seriously? I'm not sure if it's a step above or a step below one-click, but it sure as hell ain't far from it.

Also Neonode did this back in 2004/2005 with the N1. Apple's patent is a month old.

Demo @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj-KS2kfIr0#t=4m00s

Edit: from question to statement.

The date Apple received the patent is very different from when they filed the patent, or even when they first came up with the idea.

So in spite of the fact that it's a bit absurd, it is inaccurate to claim that anyone who had a lock screen more than a month old constitutes prior art.

However if you read it (though, IANAL) you'll see that it is a direct translation of lock screens from standard phones to those with touchscreens. It's on the same level as a patent for "standard thing X but with a computer", or "X on the internet", now it's "X with a touchscreen".

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