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Palm Pre - Patent Violations?

redman042

redman042

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jun 13, 2008
3,063
1,657
Looking for input from folks who really understand the Apple patents and what they do/don't cover. I saw some videos online of the Pre in action, and it is showing multitouch gestures, and pinch zoom on the browser. Can someone tell me how this is not going to result in a lawsuit from Apple?
 
Do they have patents on the ones you've mentioned in the first place?
If they are please point me to the right direction, I can't seem to find it on Google. [though I may stand corrected] I guess Palm Pre wouldn't release those kind of features if they had patents in the first place (else that will be a big lawsuit)
 
Rayfire said:
Do they have patents on the ones you've mentioned in the first place?
If they are please point me to the right direction, I can't seem to find it on Google. [though I may stand corrected] I guess Palm Pre wouldn't release those kind of features if they had patents in the first place (else that will be a big lawsuit)
Click to expand...

Unless they licensed them.
 
I also find it weird that Amazon can patent "one click buy" and RIM can patent "push email" and some random company can patent "voicemail in a list" but Apple can't seem to patent anything that makes the iPhone an iPhone.

I don't know much about patents and such (though I'm sure MacRumors has many members who have "worked in patents field as an expert for 15 years ;)), so I hope someone can shed some light.
 
Warbrain said:
Unless they licensed them.
Click to expand...

I was just going to point that out. :eek:

There is nothing stopping Apple or any company from licensing, for a nice royalty, their patents…

It all adds to income.

That of course is with the proviso that Apple actually has water-tight patents. Remember Stevo is a great "talker".
 
To avoid a patent violation, all Palm has to do is slightly change the coding for the multi-touch screen. There is an asus netbook out right now that has a multitouch screen. We haven't heard any rumblings from Apple about this.

For example, not so much with technology, but ever wonder how all these drugs that do the same thing come out? There are many statin drugs (cholesterol lower meds) on the market that all do the exact same thing. They all have patents on them. The way that they avoid a patent violation is they very very slightly change the molecular formula or structure of the chemical. They can't change it too much or it won't bind the enzyme it has to inhibit. Look at any other technology; cars, TVs, stereos, etc. They all have their own proprietary patented feature that do the same thing, but there are no violations per se.
 
Both multi-touch and pinch are well over a decade old. Apple invented neither.

There are patent applications for some iPhone specific algorithms, but it's not hard to get around those kinds of patents. You just do things slightly differently.

You have to remember: Jobs is a salesman, not an engineer or designer like some seem to think. He's very good at picking out things people will like, and he's very good at verbally selling them. And he's exceptionally good at verbal misdirection.

Where do you think the term RDF came from? :)
 
kdarling said:
Both multi-touch and pinch are well over a decade old. Apple invented neither.

There are patent applications for some iPhone specific algorithms, but it's not hard to get around those kinds of patents. You just do things slightly differently.

You have to remember: Jobs is a salesman, not an engineer or designer like some seem to think. He's very good at picking out things people will like, and he's very good at verbally selling them. And he's exceptionally good at verbal misdirection.

Where do you think the term RDF came from? :)
Click to expand...

Please, stop! Tell me no more, you're breaking my heart! Steve Jobs did invent the cellphone!

*not listening, not listening, la la la la la*

:p
 
Rayfire said:
Do they have patents on the ones you've mentioned in the first place?
If they are please point me to the right direction, I can't seem to find it on Google. [though I may stand corrected] I guess Palm Pre wouldn't release those kind of features if they had patents in the first place (else that will be a big lawsuit)
Click to expand...

I guess it would be this one:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=cWiiAAAAEBAJ

It's just an application.,
 
Multi-Touch existed before the iPhone...iPhone only made it popular
 
redman042 said:
Looking for input from folks who really understand the Apple patents and what they do/don't cover. I saw some videos online of the Pre in action, and it is showing multitouch gestures, and pinch zoom on the browser. Can someone tell me how this is not going to result in a lawsuit from Apple?
Click to expand...

why do you care, apple have lwayers.
 
Apple has UI patents. Palm has UI patents. Sabers will be rattled. Maybe the lawyers will make gazillions exchanging lawsuit threats. But in the end there will very likely be a settlement and a cross-licensing agreement.

.
 
redman042 said:
Looking for input from folks who really understand the Apple patents and what they do/don't cover. I saw some videos online of the Pre in action, and it is showing multitouch gestures, and pinch zoom on the browser. Can someone tell me how this is not going to result in a lawsuit from Apple?
Click to expand...

no. Apple only used the name multi-touch (with trumpets and drums) to refeer to the software that fingerworks had patented.

here you can find some hints.
 
It seems everything's a patent violation these days. Just the other day, I went to the bathroom (a number #2) only be sued by my neighbor claiming he did that before I did. What is this world coming tooo!!!!!! ;)
 
kas23 said:
To avoid a patent violation, all Palm has to do is slightly change the coding for the multi-touch screen. There is an asus netbook out right now that has a multitouch screen. We haven't heard any rumblings from Apple about this.

For example, not so much with technology, but ever wonder how all these drugs that do the same thing come out? There are many statin drugs (cholesterol lower meds) on the market that all do the exact same thing. They all have patents on them. The way that they avoid a patent violation is they very very slightly change the molecular formula or structure of the chemical. They can't change it too much or it won't bind the enzyme it has to inhibit. Look at any other technology; cars, TVs, stereos, etc. They all have their own proprietary patented feature that do the same thing, but there are no violations per se.
Click to expand...

This explanation is flawed on so many levels it begs the question: why do people insist on posting if they don't have any idea what they are talking about? Is it the internet equivalent of people who simply like to hear themselves speak?
 
cellocello said:
I also find it weird that Amazon can patent "one click buy" and RIM can patent "push email" and some random company can patent "voicemail in a list" but Apple can't seem to patent anything that makes the iPhone an iPhone.

I don't know much about patents and such (though I'm sure MacRumors has many members who have "worked in patents field as an expert for 15 years ;)), so I hope someone can shed some light.
Click to expand...

I found it hilarious when I saw somewhere dealing with iTunes that Amazon had a patent on "one-click." I'm assuming it's some code behind the feature that is used and not just the darn name, but it just sounds hilariously like patenting a sunrise.
 
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