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HTC Delays Evo 4G LTE Launch as U.S. Customs Investigates Shipments for Breach of Apple Patent

Consultant said:
Are software patents evil?
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2011/08/09/are-software-patents-evil/
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In the past when apple has been sued over software patents (like iTunes for example).

Apple fan-boys have been very quick to de-cry the bs nature of software patents.

And software patents certainly are bad for business and innovation. They discourage innovation instead encouraging stagnation because if the GUI is a patented than the first company/person to invent it doesn't need to worry about someone else selling a comparable product...
 
charlieegan3 said:
While it may seem like that, and Apple remains the biggest company in the world you still need to respect their patents.
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The patents in this case are as trivial as it gets. They should not have been granted in the first place.

I have a background in software development, technical writing and networking, so I actually am a person that should feel protected by IP laws. But I live and work in the real world, and all I can say is that it is my firm belief that the entire patent and copyright system is a perversion that is only there for the benefit of large corporations and especially software patents should be abolished yesterday.
 
e-coli said:
I don't understand the people complaining about IP violations.

Imagine if you built a house for yourself from the ground up, nail by nail, brick by brick. On the day you're finished someone grabs the keys from you and moves in. So you've done all the work, and someone els reaps all the benefits.

Fair? No. That's why IP protections exist.
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Yes this is an accurate analogy :rolleyes:
 
AP_piano295 said:
In the past when apple has been sued over software patents (like iTunes for example).

Apple fan-boys have been very quick to de-cry the bs nature of software patents.

And software patents certainly are bad for business and innovation. They discourage innovation instead of stagnation because if the GUI is a patented than the first company/person to invent it doesn't need to worry about someone else selling a comparable product...
Click to expand...

You see, there is the problem right there: Only big companies with large legal departments and sufficient funding for them can afford those legal battles. It does not matter if you own a patent. It only matters if you have the money to start the legal battle. If you violate some small company's patent that does have the funding to defend its patent, nobody will stop you. That's the dirty game companies like Apple and Oracle play.
 
e-coli said:
I don't see how it's inaccurate. Maybe instead of being snarky you can contribute to the conversation.
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A better analogy would be:

Apple builds a house and moves in.

HTC builds a house next-door which is different in almost every way. Except they used some very similar tiles in the downstairs bathroom.

So instead of accepting that there really isn't that much difference between any set of blue tiles. Apple tells its lawyers to sue HTC and keep them from moving into their house until they pull up the tiles in the bathroom and replace them with tiles that Apple thinks are different enough.

This is a much better analogy of what is actually going on here.
 
robanga said:
The comments over at Engadget are vehemently anti-apple
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Well, obviously. Engadget commenters seemingly have the lowest form of intelligence, especially when it comes to Apple. Though, I do think you can blame Apple for this; they already had HTC come up with the (admittedly cool) ring lock screen due to "slide to unlock" patent infringements, but this is just cruel. HTC hasn't been doing too well recently and to cause an embargo on their newest flagship phone could possibly destroy their profits. This is only bad for consumers in really every way possible.
 
AP_piano295 said:
A better analogy would be:

Apple builds a house and moves in.

HTC builds a house next-door which is different in almost every way. Except they used some very similar tiles in the downstairs bathroom.

So instead of accepting that there really isn't that much difference between any set of blue tiles. Apple tells its lawyers to sue HTC and keep them from moving into their house until they pull up the tiles in the bathroom and replace them with tiles that Apple thinks are different enough.

This is a much better analogy of what is actually going on here.
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golf claps this example.
 
ShiftyPig said:
By revenue, they aren't even top 100.
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Based on 2011 revenue of $108B, Apple ranks as the 40th largest company in the world. For 2010, based on $65B, Apple ranked as the 111th largest company in the world.

Edit: Source Forbes.
 
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robanga said:
1. No IP whatsoever for most things related to design or engineering.
2. Drug companies should be the possible exception because of their low rate of success and cost, maybe something like 7 yrs.
3. Copyrights for creative material should expire in 10 years with no renewal.
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Whoa! that's.... drastic... I'll add one:

4. No tax!
 
AP_piano295 said:
Same here...yay apple, this actually annoys me enough to stay away from apple products in the future.

I like apple's stuff and occasionally buy it but when they start using litigation to infringe on consumer choice it actually pisses me off.

I don't wan't an iPhone and this doesn't change that, sorry...

EDIT : PS. Bring on the down votes I bashed apple on a front page thread, "He's a witch!!".
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apple is losing customers day by day because of this childish law suit stuff. Apple has enough money and dont need to worry and just keep their niche customers happy. Anyways. I feel the tablet fad is starting to slowdown and it was just that a fad. lol.
 
Winni said:
You see, there is the problem right there: Only big companies with large legal departments and sufficient funding for them can afford those legal battles. It does not matter if you own a patent. It only matters if you have the money to start the legal battle. If you violate some small company's patent that does have the funding to defend its patent, nobody will stop you. That's the dirty game companies like Apple and Oracle play.
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Fair point, I guess I would like to see a system that considers factors like:

-You shouldn't be able to patent simple "non-novel" solutions and then attempt to sue other companies for using an obvious solution to a standard problem.

-Basically patents should be limited to actually innovative and unique products. You shouldn't be able to patent every modified lug-nut you use to build a truck...

-You shouldn't be able to hold a patent without intent to use if for a particularly long period of time (use being sale/licensing of the patent, or development of a product using said patent.)

Hopefully some changes along these lines would discourage patent hoarding. And also make it simpler for small companies and individuals to pursue legitimate patent claims.
 
AP_piano295 said:
A better analogy would be:

Apple builds a house and moves in.

HTC builds a house next-door which is different in almost every way. Except they used some very similar tiles in the downstairs bathroom.

So instead of accepting that there really isn't that much difference between any set of blue tiles. Apple tells its lawyers to sue HTC and keep them from moving into their house until they pull up the tiles in the bathroom and replace them with tiles that Apple thinks are different enough.

This is a much better analogy of what is actually going on here.
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I agree in this case. I was speaking industry-wide. Everyone has taken a chunk of the innovations Apple made with the iPhone. So, industry-wide my analogy is correct. In individual cases such as this I agree with you.
 
Inakto said:
US Customs holding competitors' products at the border.
US Government giving tax breaks.

I don't get it
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Well, it's simple. There is a government conspiracy to make Apple richer and richer.

Obviously those two issues mentioned above are directly related, not separate issues as they might appear to the uninformed and naive.

The conspiracy is clear to those in the know, and the truly well informed, like the poster.

Wake up, America, to the government's underhanded, sneaky, and secret support of Apple.

Rise up and smash this conspiracy!!!!:eek:

:rolleyes: :p
 
Inakto said:
That's fine and dandy, however the US Government remains the biggest Government in the world and you still need to respect their (surprisingly low) corporate tax rates.

Again, this is not apple's fault, just the governments' for being so soft.
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The US has the highest corporate tax rate in the world. Wonder why companies move money and jobs offshore...? This is why. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_tax_rates
 
The Clueless Don't Get It

robanga said:
1. No IP whatsoever for most things related to design or engineering.
2. Drug companies should be the possible exception because of their low rate of success and cost, maybe something like 7 yrs.
3. Copyrights for creative material should expire in 10 years with no renewal.
Click to expand...

People who advocate this view obviously don't own a copyright, trademark or patent otherwise they'd immediately see the need.
 
bobenhaus said:
apple is losing customers day by day because of this childish law suit stuff. Apple has enough money and dont need to worry and just keep their niche customers happy. Anyways. I feel the tablet fad is starting to slowdown and it was just that a fad. lol.
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Just had to quote this so I can laugh in 5 years that you were wrong
 
AP_piano295 said:
A better analogy would be:

Apple builds a house and moves in.

HTC builds a house next-door which is different in almost every way. Except they used some very similar tiles in the downstairs bathroom.

So instead of accepting that there really isn't that much difference between any set of blue tiles. Apple tells its lawyers to sue HTC and keep them from moving into their house until they pull up the tiles in the bathroom and replace them with tiles that Apple thinks are different enough.

This is a much better analogy of what is actually going on here.
Click to expand...

I mostly agree, but your point is inherently lessening the accusation on Apple's part. As far as mainstream consumer electronic history is concerned, Apple did come up with modern interactions with touchscreen devices. That includes a lock screen with a slider (hell, the LG Vu had an unlock button you had to hold and it was a touchscreen phone after the iPhone), multitouch gestures, a home button, etc. Sure, many of those implementations seem logical now, but Apple was the company that did it first and made people settle in with using a device in that manner, and because of this, they own the patents on it. It's slightly unfair to equate creating modern UX and holding the patents on it to "blue tiles in the basement."

All of that aside though, I agree that this is pointless and can only hurt consumers. The HTC One X seems like a great device and exactly what HTC needs right now.
 
YAY - after all the times HTC has being causing trouble for Apple, Apple are getting HTC for something.
Seems like HTC have being causing Apple unnecessary trouble.
 
AP_piano295 said:
There are many industries in which patents are prohibited:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL2FOrx41N0
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Fashion isn't based on the newest innovations or tens of millions of dollars poured into R&D. If Google spent 30 million dollars coming up with a great feature that has never been seen before, it would be ridiculously unfair to say Adobe could clone their work in a few days, and sell it for much less. Without patents, you would be seening much less innovation and drive to come up with new and better ways to do things.
 
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