Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Swiss Federal Railways Says Apple Copied Its Iconic Railway Clock
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
They sued samsung for making a phone that looks like their phone. Apple copied a clock that is a clock. Apple did not make a clock or watch and hang it in their building. I wonder legal wise if they can actually do anything.
The lawsuits need to stop by everyone. Woz's statement about the patent suits is what needs to be done.
The clock itself is a standard design and the only bit of the design is the red ball on the end of the second hand. Without this single decoration there would be no claim.
It's a bit like a classic clock dressed up for red nose day so perhaps the infringement fines should go to that charity.
It's a bit like a classic clock dressed up for red nose day so perhaps the infringement fines should go to that charity.
Theft is theft. You can move goalposts to wherever you want - but there's no denying that they designed the clock to look like the Swiss Fed Rail one and failed to obtain permission. Everything else you mention is irrelevant.
Seriously, every railway station in Europe has that same damn clock on every platform. Are you gonna tell me they all pay the SBB for use of this design???
Yes I suspect they'll cease and desist, but that doesn't really un-infringe the however many million copies of the app they have already supplied. I'm pretty certain there will be a settlement behind closed doors.
I thought it looked European... I've seen that clock face done in black and white before. Did they break some trademark thing doing that?
It would be easy for Apple to fix this...
It would be easy for Apple to fix this...
I'd be curious to see if the clock owner has a patent on that clock face in the US or any other country than their own. If not, oh well, Apple probably does already.
Steve Jobs always quoted the Picaso statement of "Good designers copy, Great designers steal".
Okay this made me laugh, not the burning blah blah, but the fact you think train networks do not exist extensively around the world .... And are a huge transport infrastructure in 2012!!!
So which amazing metropolis do you come from that consider train network obsolete ?? You already have them flying cars?!?
Whatever. It 'resembles' it.
Proportionately, it is different. Unless there is evidence of blatant attempt to copy, I call coincidence, and no infringement.
This is like trying to copyright note progression. no.
Eventually, we will all be stuck with the same songs, images, gadgets, computers, cars, clothes, etc... since we will run out of original designs, and god forbid something new is similar to something else.
Park progress.
Proportionately, it is different. Unless there is evidence of blatant attempt to copy, I call coincidence, and no infringement.
This is like trying to copyright note progression. no.
Eventually, we will all be stuck with the same songs, images, gadgets, computers, cars, clothes, etc... since we will run out of original designs, and god forbid something new is similar to something else.
Park progress.
The company licensing the design is over 50 years old
http://www.mondaine.com/about-us/
The watch design is even older
http://www.swissworld.org/en/switzerland/swiss_specials/swiss_watches/the_swiss_railway_clock/
I doubt the US schools got these before, otherwise please link to a source.
I have to LOL at this. Sorry Apple. You drag Samsung through the dirt when it comes to "copying" an "iconic design" and you copy another iconic, trademarked clock design without a second thought... nice.
I hope everything works out in the end, but man, is this hypocrisy at work.
I hope everything works out in the end, but man, is this hypocrisy at work.
How is this company even threatened by this? They make and sell clocks and watches, right? Are train stations going to hang iPad's on the walls with this clock design running? Are people going to strap iPhones on their wrists with this clockface?
There are 7 billion people on this planet. The odds are highly against any idea you come up with being completely original, don't you think?
There are 7 billion people on this planet. The odds are highly against any idea you come up with being completely original, don't you think?
Time for the SBB+CFF+FFS to go thermonuclear - will they settle for proper maps coverage in Switzerland?
$395 for that Swiss train clock at the MOMA link? Not for this white trash... A 20 year old Sanyo clock works just great... YIKES! 
ADDED: Oh, that one has an included AC adapter. OK, but that doesn't make me anywhere near wanting to spend that kind of coin for 'a clock'...
ADDED: Oh, that one has an included AC adapter. OK, but that doesn't make me anywhere near wanting to spend that kind of coin for 'a clock'...
the thing is Apple has ton of money and Europe railways do not ...
so they are targeting who has money