Apple Targets Samsung With New Lawsuit Over 'Galaxy' Line

[tinman0]

Yes, they should be credited for it.

In 2050, when some one reads about an iPhone, it should read that Apple invented pinch to zoom and other multi-touch wonders. [ci needed]

But having patents on that? It's ridiculous. What if some one had a patent on clicking on a trackpad OR clicking on a mouse button OR ...

These are basic things; absolute common sense which apple should be credited for; that's all. They should never have patented it.

What seems obvious today (or in the future) may not have been so obvious in the past.

That is why r&d is important, and that is why the protection of ip rights is also important, regardless of how obvious something is.

If companies did not have this protection, then its simply a race to the bottom.

The end result will be that no company will be able to afford to innovate because its innovations will be stolen and copied by companies who put no effort into their own r&d.

 

[tinman0]

Fords been making Jags since 1990. Don't worry I drive an overpriced Proton (Lotus).

Ford sold Jaguar several years ago. Ironically, just as Jag started building decent cars.

 

[sciwizam]

From Nilay Patel's post: http://thisismynext.com/2011/04/19/apple-sues-samsung-analysis/

Hardware and software trade dress claims

1) a rectangular product shape with all four corners uniformly rounded;
the front surface of the product dominated by a screen surface with black borders;
2) as to the iPhone and iPod touch products, substantial black borders above and below the screen having roughly equal width and narrower black borders on either side of the screen having roughly equal width;
3) as to the iPad product, substantial black borders on all sides being roughly equal in width;
4) a metallic surround framing the perimeter of the top surface;
5) a display of a grid of colorful square icons with uniformly rounded corners; and
6) a bottom row of square icons (the “Springboard”) set off from the other icons and that do not change as the other pages of the user interface are viewed.

The first four seem flimsy in light this..

 

[kdarling]

One interesting part of the lawsuit:

Apple refers to their own iPad as resembling a "grown-up iPhone". - pg 10

So there we have it. An official description.

 

[tinman0]

From Nilay Patel's post: http://thisismynext.com/2011/04/19/apple-sues-samsung-analysis/



The first four seem flimsy in light this..

Excellent article you found.

Trouble with the above picture and the argument that you present (which I kinda agree with about the form), is that after the iPhone was released, this is what the Samsung looked like:

So if the former was so good, why suddenly change it to look like the iPhone.

And if TouchWiz is what I think it is - I saw that a few months after the iPhone and you had to admit - that was a mini iPhone clone. You could easily mistake that for iOS is you weren't paying attention. Even the alternating colours on lists (eg contacts) were the same shade, the navigation through the main applications was very similar.

Guess Apple thought so as well.

 

[lilo777]

From Nilay Patel's post: http://thisismynext.com/2011/04/19/apple-sues-samsung-analysis/



The first four seem flimsy in light this..

This is a good one. From this picture, it's obvious that Apple copied a lot more from Samsung than Samsung copied from Apple. Look of icons? Really? As if those were so unique. While some Galaxy icons do look almost identical to the ones on iPhone there is a big difference between icon sets. In general, Galaxy icons do not have square background. Their background is transparent just like the GUI of most phones with graphic screens (even before the smart phone era).

 

[LagunaSol]

I am having a good laugh watching all the "industry plants" hate on Apple because they can't make a quality device like the folks over at Cupertino. LOL

When companies are desperate they have to resort to desperate measures like having their employees infiltrate a Mac forum. So lame but hilarious.

Indeed. They'll deny it, of course, yet the question remains why they dedicate so much "personal" time to hating on Apple in an Apple users' forum. I loathe Microsoft, yet I don't spend any time on any forum dedicated to the use of their products to express my opinions.

Perhaps if I were paid by the post...

Tell me what main differences iOS and Android have that make one better than the other... remove hardware from the conversation.

A quality app library.

 

[cmaier]

From Nilay Patel's post: http://thisismynext.com/2011/04/19/apple-sues-samsung-analysis/



The first four seem flimsy in light this..

That's why the list doesn't just have four items on it. You don't infringe unless you do all 6.

 

[linux2mac]

Indeed. They'll deny it, of course, yet the question remains why they dedicate so much "personal" time to hating on Apple in an Apple users' forum. I loathe Microsoft, yet I don't spend any time on any forum dedicated to the use of their products to express my opinions.

+1

I also despise Microsoft and would never spend one second of my time in a Windows forum trying to tell forum members that Windows is garbage.

 

[pmjoe]

Yes, they should be credited for it.

In 2050, when some one reads about an iPhone, it should read that Apple invented pinch to zoom and other multi-touch wonders. [ci needed]

But Apple invented NONE of those things. Apple did not invent multi-touch, gesture input.

But having patents on that? It's ridiculous. What if some one had a patent on clicking on a trackpad OR clicking on a mouse button OR ...

These are basic things; absolute common sense which apple should be credited for; that's all. They should never have patented it.

Well, that's why most user interface patents should be thrown out. It's one thing to Copyright or Trademark a specific design and/or underlying code (so someone doesn't copy a designer/developer's work verbatim) or to patent specific underlying hardware technology, but the idea that specific hand/finger gestures, movements or manipulations are patentable is ludicrous.

 

[coldmack]

Indeed. They'll deny it, of course, yet the question remains why they dedicate so much "personal" time to hating on Apple in an Apple users' forum. I loathe Microsoft, yet I don't spend any time on any forum dedicated to the use of their products to express my opinions.

A quality app library.

I am no Android fan, in fact I want to see Android fail like ever red blooded American Nokia fan, but even I know that Android right now has many of the same developers on the market.

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

A quality app library.

Quite honestly that is also debatable.

The Android Marketplace has most "Major" apps that Apples App Store has.

So looks like iOS really doesn't have any real distinct advantage than does it?

But Apple invented NONE of those things. Apple did not invent multi-touch, gesture input.

Well, that's why most user interface patents should be thrown out. It's one thing to Copyright or Trademark a specific design and/or underlying code (so someone doesn't copy a designer/developer's work verbatim) or to patent specific underlying hardware technology, but the idea that specific hand/finger gestures, movements or manipulations are patentable is ludicrous.

Almost everything Apple has done recently they have done through acquisitions. Buying a small companies ideas and personnel and branding it with a big Apple "DESIGNED IN CALIFORNIA!"

 

[lilo777]

That's why the list doesn't just have four items on it. You don't infringe unless you do all 6.

Probably a sarcasm but still... What if Samsung "patented" four out of these six items before Apple did (no icons with rounded corners)? Would Apple be liable? When does it become ridiculous? Can you patent prior art? Now, if Samsung takes 6 Apple items, adds one of their own and patent them as a new dressing code? After all Apple design elements in this case have prior art. If they claim that they combined them in a unique way then so could Samsung. Their square joystick and battery door should be enough of a differentiator I guess

 

[silentnite]

Really! I mean how else were they going to make it. It's clear that the other tablet makers have no idea what to do. If they had a clue ipad tablets would have been last to come out. Samsung, Hp and Microsoft had plenty of time to invent a tablet long before apple got into the tablet making. It's clear they did not know where to begin. Now that apple has the ipad everyone wants to copy it or bash it. Google wants to make an itunes copy now and so on. It's scary!

 

[cmaier]

Probably a sarcasm but still... What if Samsung "patented" four out of these six items before Apple did (no icons with rounded corners)? Would Apple be liable?

Yes.

When does it become ridiculous? Can you patent prior art?

No. And Apple hasn't.

Now, if Samsung takes 6 Apple items, adds one of their own and patent them as a new dressing code?

They can do that. But that doesn't mean they can actually sell that product. All it means is they can stop Apple (and others) from selling products that do the 6+1 thing.

After all Apple design elements in this case have prior art. If they claim that they combined them in a unique way then so could Samsung. Their square joystick and battery door should be enough of a differentiator I guess

Maybe. Probably not. Adding new things to a patent doesn't prevent infringement. Adding new things to trade dress might prevent infringement.

 

[aperry]

Wow. Given the F700, it seems like Samsung had 90% of the iPhone's "look and feel" before the iPhone did. Rectangular form with rounded corners, uniform bezel, grid-organized icons, "springboard"-like icons at the bottom.

Seriously, is Apple really just arguing about rounded icon corners, color, and multiple home screens?

Almost seems like this lawsuit should be going in the other direction.

 

[shandyman]

Where exactly does Apple hold the IP/patent for icons in a grid pattern on a hand-held device?

that's not the point, look at samsungs touchwiz interface on the galaxy, tied in with the look and shape of the galaxy, compared to the iPhone, as has been shown in this thread, it's a blatant ripoff. That's the point of why they're suing. you're just twisting the facts to suit your deluded crusade that apple is the devil...........

thus this is just against the galaxy line and not HTC's or Motorola's android phones.

That second picture is an android app. Android is a very different look and feel from iOS.

That is a picture of Android OS in its late development.

That is in no way Android. That is Samsung's custom UI replacement.

This is Android on phones now:

as i said above.... saumsung's design for the galaxy along with their custom UI replacement, makes it look like a poor man's iPhone

Does make you wonder why they even bother following an Apple news blog.

I've noticed a huge anti-Apple thing here, when this is meant to be a fan site!

exactly, it's gotten ridiculous

whatever. Other then the dock, the layout is pretty much like every other Android phone and tablet. So I guess Apple has to sue everyone.

Sounds more to me like Apple is afraid of the Galaxy line gaining on the iphone ipad line. Which is silly of course. Even thought I think the Galaxy line is better. I own both ipad and galaxy phone

you really should read through the thread, samsung are just making knockoffs of the iPhone and iPad. the HTC, Motorla and other android phones actually are different enough.

 

[chrmjenkins]

From Nilay Patel's post: http://thisismynext.com/2011/04/19/apple-sues-samsung-analysis/



The first four seem flimsy in light this..

Read the comments next time:

One minor problem; in real life, the F700 was _not_ shown at CeBIT 2006. It was announced in Feb 2007 and shown at CeBIT 2007, in March. Whoever made the image tripped up.

http://www.slashgear.com/slashgear-at-cebit-samsung-f700-hands-on-154328/

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I'd be curious to see someone's idea for a unique GUI for a smart phone with a touchscreen interface. There's only so many ways to organize icons. I mean the iPhone's icons look suspiciously like the icon view in a normal window display from any given OS out there. Bar graphics at the top are standard for most phones. Touch screens are touch screens. You could do a text display...or ? Pure voice or thought interface? There we go. I'm patenting a thought/brain interface right now so a few years down the road I can sue Apple when they try to to release the iBrain.

 

[chrmjenkins]

I'd be curious to see someone's idea for a unique GUI for a smart phone with a touchscreen interface. There's only so many ways to organize icons. I mean the iPhone's icons look suspiciously like the icon view in a normal window display from any given OS out there. Bar graphics at the top are standard for most phones. Touch screens are touch screens. You could do a text display...or ? Pure voice or thought interface? There we go. I'm patenting a thought/brain interface right now so a few years down the road I can sue Apple when they try to to release the iBrain.

That's not what Apple is implying has been infringed. They are saying the specifics of the design (bezel size, shape and color; icon size, shape, color and depiction of elements; body size, contours, etc.) have been infringed such that the product begins to look like an imitation rather a device with a similar form factor. Notice that the suit lists samsung specifically, not HTC, motorola, LG etc.

As you say, there's only so many ways to make a touchscreen bar phone, which would mean everyone would be suing everyone else.

 

[ScottishDuck]

IP and Patent law is in drastic need of reform. Enough of this anti-competitive idiocy.

 

[AndroidfoLife]

Does make you wonder why they even bother following an Apple news blog.

I've noticed a huge anti-Apple thing here, when this is meant to be a fan site!

Hate to say it, but I find AppleInsider a little more grown up. This place seems to be infested with 12 year olds.

Its called criticism, People should not be D!ck riding anything. Apple is doing a a D!ck move right now. They seem to believe they invented the touchscreen, the smart phone, and apps. When we all know these where around far before apple. Apple should not have claims to combining them.

 

[AndroidfoLife]

as i said above.... saumsung's design for the galaxy along with their custom UI replacement, makes it look like a poor man's iPhone

That would be very true, if the Galaxy phone line was not better then the iPhone in terms of hardware. Software is a debate I prefer not to get into.

 

[KingCrimson]

Its called criticism, People should not be D!ck riding anything. Apple is doing a a D!ck move right now. They seem to believe they invented the touchscreen, the smart phone, and apps. When we all know these where around far before apple. Apple should not have claims to combining them.

So IP protection means nothing?

 

[shandyman]

Its called criticism, People should not be D!ck riding anything. Apple is doing a a D!ck move right now. They seem to believe they invented the touchscreen, the smart phone, and apps. When we all know these where around far before apple. Apple should not have claims to combining them.

there's criticism and outright hating, the latter being what's happening far too much lately.

this isn't a d!ck move, they're protecting their IP, if they don't attempt to protect it, they lose the patents, as many people have stated. but don't let the facts stop you there......

plus the galaxy is a blatant knockoff when you see the side by side comparisons. samsung blatantly copied the iPhone's UI for their touchwiz UI and made their phone have an extremely similar look to the iPhone.....