Most people get it right on the third attempt.
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I'm confused as to how Apple's patent got approved when there was already a company selling the product?
No patent has been awarded. The report said an application was filed, but there are a lot of hurdles to clear before the patent is awarded (if at all). One of the hurdles will be explaining specifically how apple's patent application discloses a different invention than whats out there already (and ammending the patent claims accordingly). As others have noted, apple will probably just pay to license existing technology if the claims in their patent application arent allowed
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I see what you're saying. My question is, why would Apple try to patent something that has already been patented? Is it just because "everyone else does it, why not Apple?" I just don't see why they would spend the time and money to try to patent something that clearly has been awarded to someone else.
Apple has the ability, power, and money to pay patent professionals to patent the novel ideas from the start.
Because maybe there is something new and novel in Apples patent application that has not been previously disclosed. In that case, Apple might be able to obtain a patent on the new stuff.