HTC Responds to Apple Patent Lawsuit

[err404]

What about as early as back in 2007 - Palm couldn't have been that bad off? None the less from Palms perspective at least, they would have little to loose. They are already big risk takers. The worst that could happen is they go out of business, but that's not so bad if you are already heading that way.

In general, companies rarely risk a patten fight when the defendant has a competing portfolio. It could prevent them from selling their product, even if they ultimately win.

 

[cmaier]

In general, companies rarely risk a patten fight when the defendant has a competing portfolio. It could prevent them from selling their product, even if they ultimately win.

If palm survives as a separate entity, it will be ad an IP holding company.

More likely - they're done. Their webos solution was too similar to iPhone without any real differentiating features. The marketplace has no room for them - what room there was for a secondary closed finger-oriented solution will be taken up by WP7.

 

[err404]

Also, I must apologize once again, as I thought this had something to do with Multi Touch, as it was only when Android running on HTC phones implemented Multi Touch that Apple decided to sue them, so I figured that there would be some sort of connection.

You certainty were not the only one drawing that conclusion. I feel that this has been in the works far longer then the multitouch debate. Putting together this type of case probably took a year or more of work from Apples legal team.
However, I would not be surprised if the multitouch was the straw that pushed Apple to actually file the complaint.

 

[LagunaSol]

I'm not a user of Android -- but answer me this: what about it is about search?

Well, since they're giving the OS away for free, it's obviously a vehicle for their search business and not a business itself.

Here's where I think Android and Chrome came from: Microsoft's foray into the search business. Microsoft, as always, wants its fingers in every pie. They saw Google making big money in search, they wanted in on that action. So they started a search engine. Sure, it didn't go anywhere, but it was a clear shot across Google's bow.

Google had to realize the precarious situation it was in. Microsoft and Apple (and RIM for mobile) are the gateways to which people get information through Google. Hence, Google's business is completely dependent on Microsoft, Apple and RIM. If Microsoft and Apple and RIM decide (as Microsoft did) that they want into the search biz, they could start their own services, integrate them into their OSes and devices, and effectively strangle Google to death (if slowly).

Google's solution? Its own mobile and desktop OSes (and in the Nexus One's case, devices).

No one wants to be at the other guy's mercy. Just ask Netscape, Novell, WordPerfect, etc.

(This fear of dependence on the other guy also manifests itself in the Apple vs. Adobe Flash war.)

On the flip side, Google's jump into the OS and device business show Microsoft and Apple and RIM that they can't be dependent on Google for search. Are Apple and RIM search engines inevitable? How about a Microsoft-branded phone? It seems vertical integration is the new business model. Now everyone is fighting to be the One and Only.

What a mess. Thanks Microsoft.

More likely - they're done. Their webos solution was too similar to iPhone without any real differentiating features. The marketplace has no room for them - what room there was for a secondary closed finger-oriented solution will be taken up by WP7.

Palm was done a long time ago. WebOS is just a prolonged death rattle. Which is a real shame - WebOS is a beautiful platform, with a more polished and "Apple-esque" UI than iPhone OS. They were simply too late to the game. Resting on their laurels with Palm OS for so many years killed them. iPhone changed everything, caught Palm, RIM and Microsoft off guard, and inevitably someone isn't going to survive the transition. Palm will be the first casualty.

 

[cmaier]

You certainty were not the only one drawing that conclusion. I feel that this has been in the works far longer then the multitouch debate. Putting together this type of case probably took a year or more of work from Apples legal team.
However, I would not be surprised if the multitouch was the straw that pushed Apple to actually file the complaint.

No.

 

[Skoal]

In other news, the evil Empire of Google is apparently planning to leave China!

 

[rolphi]

Apple's "sue-happy" nature as of late leads me to believe their Well of Innovation is running dry.

Patent lawsuits over touch gestures? Oversized iPod Touch? Someone's running out of ideas...



What happened to Apple's computers? Do they still make those?

I think you're asserting points that are still in dispute. How is Apple "sue-happy"? Does Apple get to choose when it's competitors decide to infringe so they can manage their lawsuits better for PR purposes? What is the alternative to suing when they see an infringement?

And someone already showed how wrong your "not making computers" talking point is.

 

[rolphi]

Apple are starting something that will be bad for innovation, imagine if Nokia, Ericsson, Samsung and all these companies would behave like this back in the days. My iPhone would have practically nothing.

So I know I only posted this three items up, but what is the rationale that makes you think this is true? What is the series of events that you think will happen as a result of this that will lead to something bad for innovation?

For that matter, what IP did Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung have that they freely let other companies use (out of generosity?, a spirit of innovation?)?

And if you're referring to the ones that make networking possible, then you are forgetting that the standards were built around their proprietary technology BECAUSE they agreed to future non-discriminitory licensing. It was not altruism. If they didn't want to license, their tech would not have become the standard.

I think this lawsuit will take years as much as 10 years to reach something.

So is this innovation problem 10 years down the road? Does this keep you up at night?

Cause about 80-90% of these suits will not stand in court. Specially not the swipe to lock which is making biggest headlines. I think Apple knows that they can't win.

Data? Outside verification of these facts? Do you have specific training we should be award of that allows you to evaluate patents for viability?

It's all PR tactics, for me it's looking like a hit or miss. Apple are trying to state to the world that Android is a copycat and if you wan the real deal you should get an iPhone. If it works that the hit. If it misses, the miss is that people will buy Android cause Apple seems to be afraid of Google and can't keep up, so they're trying to slow their roll. Kind of risky, but Steve Jobs is known for knowing his moves.

Apple pre-sold more iPads over the weekend than Google sold Nexus Ones to date. I don't think the game that typical forum goers think is happening is as important as the real game for consumers that is going on.

 

[rolphi]

Cool story bro, but speak for yourself.

Although I appreciate your attempt to bring Digg or 4Chan style memes to this otherwise grown-up conversation, I do think you used this incorrectly.

I thought that "cool story bro" was used when someone posts a personal anecdote as evidence to support an argument. And this response was intended to reinforce the idea that anecdotes can be misleadingly biased.

It seems that your use was out of place, but then again, I am no expert in its use.