If Apple decides to use them it'll take years for it to litigate, and they'll probably be proved invalid in the process.
Don't fear poor Android phones, you're safe for now.
Don't fear poor Android phones, you're safe for now.
Ultimately I think the solution is going to be one of the ones Judge Posner outlined in his editorial, but it might take a big shakeup like this to turn patents into the issue-of-the-moment for the populace and get something done (you know, in the usual rushed, nobody-read-this-legislation way).
Unfortunately I'm pretty sure Apple wouldn't get that far - they could demand a $20 or $30 royalty instead, so consumers won't be directly confronted with the insanity; Android phones would just start being closer in price to iPhones.
Until then, it's a painful, expensive process.
So, yes indeed, bring on the reductio ad absurdum.
Have members of this forum thought about the consequences of an unencumbered India and China with a large developer community?
I once worked in a place that designed a CPAP pump, which is essentially an air pump with a humidifier. It has a removable water tank with a heating plate for humidifying the air. We had to use a removable plate to expose the tank instead of a door - because our main competitor had patented a hinged flap to access the water tank!
Regardless of how obvious prior art is, it's cheaper to make minor design changes than to spend years in litigation. Even though it's worse for the consumer, you have to avoid anything patented unless you have the ready cash that Apple has lying around.
What recourse does Google have? Presumably they can't sue the patent office for granting ridiculous patents that ultimately drive them out of business.
There are a lot of what ifs. There are millions of patents in play.
Then Apple will simply license the tech, the patent holder will be happy, and life will go on. This is what they did for Xerox's GUI tech that got integrated into the Macintosh; it's what they did for that digital noise filter in the A5 chip, it's what they'll do if anyone tries to sue. Alternately, they could make a hostile takeover bid for Samsung. Think they won't? :)
For Apple, it isn't about the money, though. Stealing Apple tech is an assault on their prestige, so they are unlikely to negotiate licensing terms with Android handset makers, and those handset makers are doomed in this market.
Never saw such a low quality analysis on HN, lately. For Motorola too then maybe it isnt about money, really?
Multi-touch is big though and I at least have no recollection of prior art.
For anyone that doubts this, checkout the iPhone announcement keynote one more time. It's really worth watching again.
The first time Steve slides to unlock, and the first time he "flicks" to scroll with rubber-banding the crowd is floored.
It's worth watching for the "stylus" gag alone.
You'll also see the crowd freak-out when they see it, which I think is a reasonable way to assess how many times previously they've seen something similar.
I would disagree: RDF.
Not to mention whether a group of Apple journalists and enthusiasts have seen something before isn't quite a waterproof endorsement of lack of prior art.
>isn't quite a waterproof endorsement of lack of prior art.
That's why I said "I think is a reasonable way...they've seen similar." I made no statement about it being waterproof or a lack of prior art.