Apple Settles Lawsuit With Biometric Sensor Company Valencell That Accused it of Stealing Technology for Apple Watch

[happyprozak]

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Apple would take advantage of another company. This is common capitalist business practices. Big fish eats little fish, the means justify the ends.

Someone with more knowledge chime in to correct me but didn't Steve Jobs steal the idea for a computer GUI and a mouse from Xerox? And didn't Bill Gates turn around and steal ideas from Apple to build Windows? And they all got away with it because back then companies weren't in the habit of taking out patents for every idea they had, is that right?

I love Apple products but I accept that they are a corporation, not an ally or a friend but we should hold companies responsible. It is in our best interest as consumers to see competition play out, that is capitalism. When these corporations become too large and powerful to be challenged we lose the great elements of capitalism and begin to move in the direction of feudalism. These corporations become our overlords.

Bow to your overlords.

Apple
Google
Microsoft
Amazon

We must obey.

 

[scrapesleon]

Money paid behind closed doors

 

[omihek]

Were you not aware that a membership to macrumors automatically makes one an expert in IP law, business, marketing and engineering?

Don't forget emojis.

 

[ajguckian]

Never understood how ideas could be patented, but not really my place to do so. I am glad we're getting better actual products to use though, so in the end we win.

 

[MoreRumors?]

Both Apple and Valencell are bound by NDAs according to the settlement terms, as are an untold number of others in settled matters, wealthy or not.

But facts won’t stop comments like yours.

You're right, it won't stop my comments. It's would be like MR posting the subject without providing the details of the story. The only fact we know is the case was settled.

 

[LordVic]

"Valencell's case against Apple has now been settled and neither is able to further comment."
I know Tim really values privacy and I see it extends to lawsuits too. Just a like a wealthy person, in this case wealthy company, settling with hush money for stealing and keeping it quiet.

To be fair, when settlements happen, often times there are provisions to keep the results quiet. I've seen such in anything from settlements over layoffs to major infringements of rights. we the public have no real rights to see the value or decision in a private deal.

However, curiosity is still curiosity and I too would be interested to see what the results were. Buty eah, likely that Apple just threw a lot of money their way.
[doublepost=1548178360][/doublepost]

Are we starting to notice a trend here lately

With Apple violating patents than settling after?

not a new trend. Apple has been involved in legal disputes against (and for) since they were founded. They have often, over the decades decided that it was probably better to risk it and go for it, than pay up front. Apple has always been ruthless in this regard.

This isn't even a complete list
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc._litigation

 

[mib1800]

Never understood how ideas could be patented, but not really my place to do so. I am glad we're getting better actual products to use though, so in the end we win.

Apple patented the rectangle and sue the hell out of everyone.