The problem here isn't whether Apple copied the clock. The problem here is why couldn't the entire country jump on nearly the whole world for copying their designs? Still, I figure they might as well pay the guys and get it over with. Just that the Swiss Federal Railway is truly not seeing the big picture. They could get A LOT more money than this by going after EVERYBODY that took their Swiss Federal Railway design and sold it on the market.
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Swiss Federal Railways Says Apple Copied Its Iconic Railway Clock
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They do go after everybody who copies their design. And to those who think copyright is 'x' number of years: copyright can be renewed and it varies from country to country. The laws have also been changing, invariably in favor of the copyright holder be it individual, corporation, or heirs.
What a ridiculous comment. It's not karma that's suing Apple, it's the Swiss. And they are not suing Apple out of solidarity with Samsung, they are doing it because Apple copied them.
Apple isn't the lawmaker. If you think it's ridiculous that design patents and trade dress exist then fine, that's your opinion. But the law protects these things, and Apple were within their legal rights to sue Samsung, just as the Swiss clock designers are within their rights to sue Apple.
The only game Apple should not have played is the copying game, and I suspect the designer involved will get fired or at least severely dressed down for doing this because it is certainly not Apple's policy to behave this way (unlike, say, Samsung).
It's in the details
Hmm, I'm not so sure about this one. Design patent protection is more difficult to enforce because subtle differences are all that are required to keep it from infringing.
For instance:
Like others have noted here: The weight or thickness of the lines denoting the minutes are not identical to the railway clock marks. The arms of Apple's clock are NOT tapered like the (very subtly tapered) ones on the railway clock. The length of the arms (how much they cover the minute hash marks) aren't the same. Also, the Apple second hand has a "bulb" where it "connects" to the central axis.
As much as it appears a copy, these differences may be all that are needed to demonstrate that it is indeed different.
Hmm, I'm not so sure about this one. Design patent protection is more difficult to enforce because subtle differences are all that are required to keep it from infringing.
For instance:
Like others have noted here: The weight or thickness of the lines denoting the minutes are not identical to the railway clock marks. The arms of Apple's clock are NOT tapered like the (very subtly tapered) ones on the railway clock. The length of the arms (how much they cover the minute hash marks) aren't the same. Also, the Apple second hand has a "bulb" where it "connects" to the central axis.
As much as it appears a copy, these differences may be all that are needed to demonstrate that it is indeed different.
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I'm sorry, I'm only aware of UI design that Apple paid Xerox for with Apple stock. Which are you referring to?
Oh Please!
If you compare the clock face design of the iOS 6.0 Clock app with a real SBB railway clock, the resemblance is just uncanny--especially the distinctive second hand! (This is especially true when the app is running on an iPad.) As such, SBB and Mondaine have all the right under the Berne Convention to go after Apple either in a US Federal court or an European Commission court that deals with copyright issues.
It will be VERY interesting to see how Apple and SBB/Mondaine will settle this issue.
If you compare the clock face design of the iOS 6.0 Clock app with a real SBB railway clock, the resemblance is just uncanny--especially the distinctive second hand! (This is especially true when the app is running on an iPad.) As such, SBB and Mondaine have all the right under the Berne Convention to go after Apple either in a US Federal court or an European Commission court that deals with copyright issues.
It will be VERY interesting to see how Apple and SBB/Mondaine will settle this issue.
Common design?
I have a wristwatch with a DSB logo (Danish Railway). The design is identical or very close. See attached picture on this site:
http://evp.dk/index.php?page=pa-stationer
I have a wristwatch with a DSB logo (Danish Railway). The design is identical or very close. See attached picture on this site:
http://evp.dk/index.php?page=pa-stationer
Attachments
Oh, you mean like the "subtle" differences between Samsung's phones and pads and Apple's that got Apple BILLIONS in damages? Hmmmm?
Oh, you mean like the "subtle" differences between Samsung's phones and pads and Apple's that got Apple BILLIONS in damages? Hmmmm?
Samsung problem was it put the fact it was copying in writing.
Apple neither paid anything directly to Xerox, nor has Xerox ever agreed that they licensed their GUI to Apple. (The idea that they did, along with the story that Apple solely invented the personal computer, are two of the biggest and most oft repeated myths on the internet.)
Apple offered Xerox the right to buy 100,000 shares of pre-IPO Apple stock in return for a visit.
A year or two later Xerox licensed Apple to create a Smalltalk computer as a joint exercise.
When Apple later sued other companies for royalties on GUIs, Xerox sued Apple for trying to make money off the ideas they'd shared. As the NY Times reported it:
"Xerox contends that the Lisa and Macintosh software stems from work originally done by Xerox scientists and that it was used by Apple without permission."
"Xerox contends that Apple ''intentionally and purposefully concealed'' the derivation of the Lisa and Macintosh software from Xerox software. It said that Apple's copyrights on Lisa and Macintosh software were invalid and that the company had unjustly received benefits that rightfully belong to Xerox."
--
As for the clock thing, I suspect that's an innocent copy by some developer, and Apple will either change their clock or license the design.
It is interesting that Apple is very strict about rejecting third party app submissions using copyrighted material, but failed to vet their own app in this case.
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Absurd
Ludicrous. What a waste of TIME.
The seconds hand on the Apple clock has an enlarged part where it would be attached to a physical motor axle.
Over the past 50+ years I have seen many clock faces with the simplistic bars and hands. This is just ridiculous.
Ludicrous. What a waste of TIME.
The seconds hand on the Apple clock has an enlarged part where it would be attached to a physical motor axle.
Over the past 50+ years I have seen many clock faces with the simplistic bars and hands. This is just ridiculous.
Has anyone mentioned that Android used to rip off the IKEA Pugg clock for its clock widget?
IKEA Pugg clock:
http://www.ikea.com/au/en/images/products/pugg-wall-clock__13080_PE040801_S4.jpg
Android's old stock clock widget:
http://cdn6.staztic.com/cdn/screenshot/g1-stock-clock-widget-2x2-10-1.jpg
IKEA Pugg clock:
http://www.ikea.com/au/en/images/products/pugg-wall-clock__13080_PE040801_S4.jpg
Android's old stock clock widget:
http://cdn6.staztic.com/cdn/screenshot/g1-stock-clock-widget-2x2-10-1.jpg
hehehe so true about customer service... I'm afraid to ask sometimes! It's ironic in a way when we have prestigious "école hôtelière" here... you'd expect the country to have a little more hospitality, but unfortunately not!
At least the beautiful scenery can pacify our frustrations (most of the time)...
1. Ikea clock is not trademarked
2. It is a pretty standard clock and nothing special about it. I can show you quite a few photos of a clock face that looks that one. So again note stolen fairly standard clock.