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Apple Has Licensed iOS Design Patents to Microsoft, Agreement Bans "Cloning"
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Apple can't "squish" MS at any time. Microsoft is a large company with vast resources and a significant patent portfolio. They also have huge cash cows in Office and Windows.
If Samsung builds a Windows 8 tablet, which they are free to do, presumably they'd be able to incorporate most, if not all the pertinent design elements Apple licensed to MS, unless the license was strictly to MS itself for use in its own hardware. Given that Microsoft has an interest in promoting Windows 8, I highly doubt that. They certainly want and need companies like Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, and even Samsung to make competitive Windows 8 tablets if it is to gain a significant presence in the tablet market.
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You don't need to "clone" an interface directly in order to be infringing upon a design patent. You just need to be using one or more of the patented design elements in your own design.
not always. Could just be part of the fact MS has a rather large cross license agreement with Apple.
Does not change the fact that many of the patents Apple is suing about really are crapents and Apple should NEVER of been awarded them in the first place.
This is getting interesting, MSFT & AAPL vs GOOG & SSNLF.
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Well, Apple could always buy Microsoft, quadruple all of its product prices, make the XBOX 360 use an N64 controller, and start selling Windows 95 as new.
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Well, Apple could always buy Microsoft, quadruple all of its product prices, make the XBOX 360 use an N64 controller, and start selling Windows 95 as new.
One could ask Apple the same. Last I checked, they owe Samsung money for patents...
Oh C'mon, lighten up, it's hilarious. They post those up to get a stir. you don't really think they believe that do you? Personally I love all the WWSJD stuff. they have t-shirts, mugs, a facebook page... even bracelets.
well, they both have a common enemy -> android
my enemys enemy is my friend ...
"Keep your friends close but your enemies closer"??
I am pretty sure you'll change your opinion as soon as Microsoft's Mobile offerings start tramping iOS devices in the market space.
Say what you want about design patents, but I am afraid I find this type of licensing by Microsoft very respectable.
It's the "were being transparent about what were doing here" kind of approach that is key in making the argument that "we feel like we can bring something else valuable to the marketplace". I think this approach is going to be much more well received. Especially since imo, Microsoft is not a hardware design firm.
Bravo.
It's the "were being transparent about what were doing here" kind of approach that is key in making the argument that "we feel like we can bring something else valuable to the marketplace". I think this approach is going to be much more well received. Especially since imo, Microsoft is not a hardware design firm.
Bravo.
This is potentially a disaster for Apple, especially if the terms are not clear enough that they would require a court test. Exactly the same problem happened in the 80s, when bad lawyers at Apple authorized Sculley to sign a "single version" look-and-feel licensing agreement with MS that in the end led to litigation and MS's ultimate victory.
So I was right: Tim Cook MAY, indeed, be the new Sculley - pathetic.
well, they both have a common enemy -> android
my enemys enemy is my friend ...
Thank you.
This is, in a nutshell, the entire ball of wax. Apple/Microsoft vs Google/Samsung. With an occasional swat at HTC.
Anyone in here who discounts WIN8 Mobile had better get ready.
Though I despise MS in many ways, they deserve kudos for their mobile direction. They created a Unique OS that uses parts of others tech legally.
While the Surface has some design similarities, WIN8 Mobile is as different an OS as one can get, mostly.
I'd be careful calling the Surface an iPad killer however. The iPad 7.85 has a few surprises up it cover.
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sweet ... now Microsoft is the 'good' guy that is following the rules and plays well with others.
But makes sense for MS, they have a lot to catch up on in the mobile market, they have great ideas with their unique UI and they make sure that they cover their ass by getting licenses where needed. Way to go MS - I hope Windows 8 will succeed in Mobile and desktop market - it will bring some fresh wind of new ideas to the market without stealing ideas. (I didn't like MS in the past, but there is always hope)
But makes sense for MS, they have a lot to catch up on in the mobile market, they have great ideas with their unique UI and they make sure that they cover their ass by getting licenses where needed. Way to go MS - I hope Windows 8 will succeed in Mobile and desktop market - it will bring some fresh wind of new ideas to the market without stealing ideas. (I didn't like MS in the past, but there is always hope)
You're exactly right. I also think that by Microsoft sticking to it's "guns" by enabling Do Not Track in IE 10, they are really starting to show consumers that they are doing things right again. They are paying for their licenses and they care about privacy. Those are both very respectable.
well, they both have a common enemy -> android
my enemys enemy is my friend ...
Apple and MSFT have been patent friendly since Steve Jobs returned to Apple.
MSFT's "investment" into Apple was in part to settle all the patent disputes.
All this predates Android by over a decade.
Um, no....they can't. Microsoft is definitely down the past few years, but you'd be pretty stupid to ignore them in the future. They have the people, experience, and most importantly capital to come back and bite you in a big way if you aren't careful. Having said that, I don't think surface is going to be super successful.
Tim is no John Scully. Bruce Sewell is no Jack Brown.
Think Happy Thoughts, or sell your stock.
I was talking about in the smartphone tablet market and you know it. And if you look at TRENDS and not size you can see that apple IS in fact squishing MSFT on all fronts. Android is making gains on apple in tablet and smartphones.
We'll see. I consistently see this "experienced, rich powerhouse" put out pieces of ****. They are on their 9th iteration of IE and it still is the worst browser on the market. Windows is still built like trash, and they refuse to rewrite it. They basically have been sitting there letting everyone figure out how to do things better than them while they make money of licensing their marketshare.
I find it funny that you guys think that MSFT came to apple and asked for the patents. I would put my money on Apple came up to them and was like "take these patents so we can play nice and let's kill android together". Hell they already did all that surface stuff without the patents.
True. At the end of the day, if you are bringing something new to the table, you need not be afraid of licensing and building up on it.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Oh it will almost certainly arrive for iPad.
And, in about 2 years, it will be remembered- here- as something else Apple invented.
I think it also shows that there's ample room in the market to innovate. Part of Samsung's case is that, "Well, there's only so many ways to do it" inherent design philosophy.
MS at least came up with a new, different OS. While hardware is still a black rectangle with with a screen, the kick stand is unique, as is the cover with a keyboard (albeit some similarities to the smart cover).
MS at least came up with a new, different OS. While hardware is still a black rectangle with with a screen, the kick stand is unique, as is the cover with a keyboard (albeit some similarities to the smart cover).
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