Apple's Massive 'Steve Jobs Patent' for the iPhone Reconfirmed in its Entirety

[MacRumors]

Last December, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in response to a challenge preliminarily invalidated the so-called "Steve Jobs patent", a massive 364-page patent with 293 pages of drawings dating back to September 2006 and covering many details of the original iPhone. Steve Jobs is listed as the first of over two dozen inventors on the patent, and it is considered perhaps the most famous of his over 300 credited patents.

But as noted by FOSS Patents, the USPTO has now completed its reexamination of the patent and ruled that all twenty claims have been confirmed as patentable, significantly strengthening a patent that has been used against several of Apple's competitors in court.

As we speak, the Steve Jobs patent is even stronger than it was before someone (presumably Samsung and Google) challenged it anonymously. On September 4, 2013, the USPTO issued a reexamination certificate confirming the patentability of all 20 claims because the prior art neither anticipated this invention nor renders it obvious.

A number of Apple's key patents have been challenged for reexamination as its competitors have sought to derail Apple's claims against them in various court battles. While the USPTO has issued preliminary "first office actions" invalidating those patents in some cases, Apple has been successful in arguing its case and ultimately restoring the validity of at least the most important claims of those patents. In an example from earlier this year, a key claim of Apple's "rubber banding" patent used against Samsung was confirmed after having been preliminary invalidated last year.

Article Link: Apple's Massive 'Steve Jobs Patent' for the iPhone Reconfirmed in its Entirety

 

[guitarman777]

Glad to see credit being returned to where it's due.

 

[haruhiko]

Congratulations to the real innovators!

 

[musika]

Looking back at it all, the iPhone is so incredible. Even the first one from almost 7 years ago still blows my mind. I'm glad that I've been alive to see this kind of stuff.

 

[bacaramac]

Nice, not sure what it really means, but seems pretty awesome that it was restored in full.

 

[akm3]

Scott Forstall is the #2 listed inventor. I know it sounds conspiracy nutty but I still think Scott wasn't 'forced out' but strategically put out for a 'time in the wilderness' so he can return later (if Apple gets off track, like in the 90's) as Steve Jobs #2, returning to fix the mess.

Or if they don't go off track, they are fine. They just have a plan either way.

I know. Nutty.

 

[HenryDJP]

Scott Forstall is the #2 listed inventor. I know it sounds conspiracy nutty but I still think Scott wasn't 'forced out' but strategically put out for a 'time in the wilderness' so he can return later (if Apple gets off track, like in the 90's) as Steve Jobs #2, returning to fix the mess.

Or if they don't go off track, they are fine. They just have a plan either way.

I know. Nutty.

LOL, love your post. Might be time for you to have your coffee.

 

[Rogifan]

I'm assuming this is not the bounce back/rubber banding patent but something different?

 

[2bikes]

This is like Star Wars. We watched episodes IV - VI. And now we will see I - III.

 

[lolkthxbai]

Whoo-hoo! Big win for Apple! Steve Jobs would be proud!

 

[bloggerblog]

7 years is just ridiculously long. I hope Apple can use this to smack Samsung up the head.

 

[Shasterball]

This doesn't make the patent "stronger," so it may be best to correct that error. But it is a strategic victory for sure.

 

[Edsel]

Remember when tin-cans on a string was a remarkable device?

 

[elvetio]

...

why isn't jony there?

 

[TMay]

What it means:

Android isn't and won't continue being "free".

(MS, Nokia, and Apple and others have lots of non-SEP iP that is being/could be licensed or otherwise give a better experience on MS/Nokia and Apple)

 

[tmoney468]

Scott Forstall is the #2 listed inventor. I know it sounds conspiracy nutty but I still think Scott wasn't 'forced out' but strategically put out for a 'time in the wilderness' so he can return later (if Apple gets off track, like in the 90's) as Steve Jobs #2, returning to fix the mess.

Or if they don't go off track, they are fine. They just have a plan either way.

I know. Nutty.

Ive is the new Steve

 

[slapppy]

7 years? Wow...glad its finally over and a decision was made in favor of the true innovators here.

 

[Shasterball]

Scott Forstall is the #2 listed inventor. I know it sounds conspiracy nutty but I still think Scott wasn't 'forced out' but strategically put out for a 'time in the wilderness' so he can return later (if Apple gets off track, like in the 90's) as Steve Jobs #2, returning to fix the mess.

Or if they don't go off track, they are fine. They just have a plan either way.

I know. Nutty.

The order of inventorship is irrelevant.

 

[latts]

why isn't jony there?

Because this concerns certain parts of the software side of things and at that time hardware and software were separate

 

[Deuce2]

Now we know where Jonny Ive got his inspiration for IOS7 icons and interface.

 

[Rogifan]

The order of inventorship is irrelevant.

The design patents Steve was on his name was usually listed first. The ones he's not on, the names are listed alphabetically.

 

[835153]

Those icons are terrible

 

[springsup]

oh, snap - Apple just got a nuclear weapon!

 

[rmatthewware]

Scott Forstall is the #2 listed inventor. I know it sounds conspiracy nutty but I still think Scott wasn't 'forced out' but strategically put out for a 'time in the wilderness' so he can return later (if Apple gets off track, like in the 90's) as Steve Jobs #2, returning to fix the mess.

Or if they don't go off track, they are fine. They just have a plan either way.

I know. Nutty.

Nope. Forstall was a trouble-maker whose screw ups started to outweigh his contributions. I really doubt he's on any list, short or long, to return for any position, much less CEO.

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So now the patent is definitely valid until the patent office declares that it's not. It's got to be maddening to companies to never know if what they are building is protected or not. We're almost seven years in and we are still arguing about whether the iPhone is a unique device.

 

[Thunderhawks]

Nope. Forstall was a trouble-maker whose screw ups started to outweigh his contributions. I really doubt he's on any list, short or long, to return for any position, much less CEO.

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So now the patent is definitely valid until the patent office declares that it's not. It's got to be maddening to companies to never know if what they are building is protected or not. We're almost seven years in and we are still arguing about whether the iPhone is a unique device.

Since it's all about money, they'll eventually all cross license each others patents and be done!

It just takes enough legal money to look wasted to get that done!