Swiss Federal Railways Says Apple Copied Its Iconic Railway Clock

[Thiemo]

Then it's just wrong. There are quite big differences. But it's not the place to discuss it. And I'm already happy that a US citizien knows that Switzerland has a democracy.

Dude, I think he's Brazilian. Nudge nudge!

The hour hand isn't as wide and the minute hand isn't as long.....I am curious to know the specifics on the patient.. its a freaking clock...there are digital and analog, other than that, they all look the same...

Congrats! You'd excel at a mini mental!

 

[DrStern]

It's 70 years old

How long is a patent like that enforcable?

 

[nirvana101]

Swiss Clock

Make jokes about this but the underlying thing is that Apple actually stole another design without licensing for it. They should have known better and since they are so sue happy, perhaps they should be sued now knowing how many millions of iPhone 5's are out there now... hey, if its good for the goose... etc, etc..

 

[hamkor04]

Looks like a copy to me.

Good Artists Copy,
Great Artist Steal.

 

[subsonix]

Current calculator look:

 

[Ynot]

Not a good Copy

Well it is not a good Copy.
they missed the slight Taper in the Clock hand.

Well if the hands are different is it still a copy?

and red has been used in second hands for a number of years.

Similar but not a copy. That is the difference of good design. and the nr. 1 to 12 are patens of ....

 

[garylapointe]

This is a new icon for Apple's clock app, I noticed it immediately and although I thought it looked familiar I thought it was a big improvement of the previous icon.

This is the iPad clock app which is new in iOS 6.

Ah! It's not the Clock App. It's specifically the iPad Clock App. Didn't even notice the clock face. I did notice the border of the clock icon was white instead of black, thought it was weird that Apple didn't keep it consistent.

I clicked it and saw it worked and will probably never click it again unless it's noisy.
Siri schedules all my alarms for me

Looking again, I do see that in the app that it has no numbers on the face. A digital clock with no digits, emulating an analog clock. Kinda funny in a way....

Gary

 

[joueboy]

Stolen!

Never heard of this wall clock before. Now that everyone knows that this clock is valuable I wouldn't be surprised if somebody is going to steal it. I wouldn't be surprised too if they're going after Apple once this thing is stolen asking for more money. Regarding the clock, I completely agree that it's copy, Apple need to pay their dues.

 

[damir00]

That looks a lot closer copy than anything Samsung has done relative to the iPhone.

Just pony up and be done with it, Apple.

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Well it is not a good Copy.
they missed the slight Taper in the Clock hand.

Now you're channeling the Samsung legal team.

Seriously.

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How long is a patent like that enforcable?

It's not a patent, it's a design.

 

[harlequinn]

I dont get it, i literally see hundreds of clocks like this, it's not a unique design at all, how can you licence it?

There are so many little details that are different, the length of the hands are different, apples has a round circle on the red hand. The smaller increments are longer and skinnier.

There are only so many ways to draw a simple clock.

To me the only infringing part is the red seconds had, everything else is standard clock design. I'm sure if apple could prove the red hand came from another non copy written source they are fine, there is such a thing a coincidence.

The particular clock in question has a copyright on it - meaning you can't use its likeness.

It is also trademarked - meaning they use it as an image that represents their brand in trade.

As you already know there are myriad clock designs - and it's a slippery slope sometimes proving what is an infringing work or not.

 

[Timzer]

Wow, there's a shocker. Apple copying and trying to act like they are original. This is as clear as a copy gets. Just shows the Hypocritical Culture that is Apple. Only this company would be so arrogant to sue other companies for copying, and then blatantly copy others and soon as the leave the courthouse. By far one of the most shameful companies around.

 

[rbryanh]

Nonsense

At least Apple improved the design while plagiarizing it.

The difference in the weight of the hands in the original is superfluous and decreases the elegance of the whole composition. Apples is subtly cleaner, and more modern. It's wonderful they created a more honest design while stealing it.

 

[flopticalcube]

At least Apple improved the design while plagiarizing it.

The difference in the weight of the hands in the original is superfluous and decreases the elegance of the whole composition. Apples is subtly cleaner, and more modern. It's wonderful they created a more honest design while stealing it.

I would hope it looks more modern. The original dates from 1944. I wonder if Disney would take offense if I updated Mickey Mouse?

 

[wizard]

Honestly it looks like any other clock when you remove the ball at the end of the seconds pointer. There just isn't a lot of ways to display hours, Minutes and seconds. Go to any clock museum and you will find prior art for the Swiss clock.

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At least Apple improved the design while plagiarizing it.

The difference in the weight of the hands in the original is superfluous and decreases the elegance of the whole composition. Apples is subtly cleaner, and more modern. It's wonderful they created a more honest design while stealing it.

There is absolutely nothing unique about the Swiss clock, the general arraingement goes back hundreds of years.

 

[divinox]

There's really no dispute here, but c'mon, a clock face? Are we going to start accusing Maxis of copying Sherwin-Williams' wallpaper because there's a similar shade of blue in the Sims?

To me, this clock face has more legitimacy than Apples ipad-rants. Why? That big fat red dot on the second hand. Pure aesthetics, zero function = valid claim. Apples claim was more: its round and it has hands and ticks. Copy!

 

[subsonix]

To me, this clock face has more legitimacy than Apples ipad-rants. Why? That big fat red dot on the second hand. Pure aesthetics, zero function = valid claim.

I disagree, being a clock face owned by the railway I think the big fat red dot is there to help you see the seconds from a distance, say at a train station.

 

[Kwill]

Break out the checkbook, Tim, they caught you.

What a way to spend the court awarded fine from Samsung.
Hopefully, Samsung has not copied the clock that Apple copied.

 

[wizard]

I dont get it, i literally see hundreds of clocks like this, it's not a unique design at all, how can you licence it?

There are so many little details that are different, the length of the hands are different, apples has a round circle on the red hand. The smaller increments are longer and skinnier.

There are only so many ways to draw a simple clock.

To me the only infringing part is the red seconds had, everything else is standard clock design. I'm sure if apple could prove the red hand came from another non copy written source they are fine, there is such a thing a coincidence.

If you have spent any time in a clock and watch museum you would be even more convinced. I see nothing original in this Swiss design. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. If Apple sees it as an oversight they will likely pay up real quick. However if they see the clock as a rehashing of a long series of designs over a couple of centuries they are likely to just tell the Swiss to go pound salt.

 

[divinox]

I disagree, being a clock face owned by the railway I think the big fat red dot is there to help you see the seconds from a distance, say at a train station.

True. I'll blame the time for my oversight. Makes proper sense. Then, i will allow Apple to use a similar approach (i.e., to re-use the basic idea) if they ever start making clocks that you need to watch from a far. No problem! Either way, my point pretty much stands: for Apple, its aesthetics and not something derived from function*


* i am sure that someone is eventually going to make the comment that people need to easily tell the time looking at their iphone from a far and that Apples use is therefor functional, yada yada yada.

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Honestly it looks like any other clock when you remove the ball at the end of the seconds pointer. There just isn't a lot of ways to display hours, Minutes and seconds. Go to any clock museum and you will find prior art for the Swiss clock.

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There is absolutely nothing unique about the Swiss clock, the general arraingement goes back hundreds of years.

There arent many ways to make a tablet; you do not, however, need to place a big fat red dot at the second hand of a clock. Right?

P.S. if anything, that characteristic red dot is the unique part of the clock in question.

 

[samcraig]

I dont get it, i literally see hundreds of clocks like this, it's not a unique design at all, how can you licence it?

There are so many little details that are different, the length of the hands are different, apples has a round circle on the red hand. The smaller increments are longer and skinnier.

There are only so many ways to draw a simple clock.

To me the only infringing part is the red seconds had, everything else is standard clock design. I'm sure if apple could prove the red hand came from another non copy written source they are fine, there is such a thing a coincidence.

"There are only so many ways to draw a simple clock"

akin to there are only so many ways to indicate a call button. or a contact. There are only so many ways to design a full screen capacitive touch smart phone. There are only so many ways to....

 

[Kwill]

The hour hand isn't as wide and the minute hand isn't as long.....I am curious to know the specifics on the patient.. its a freaking clock...there are digital and analog, other than that, they all look the same...

Don't belittle simplicity.

 

[Bendrix]

Other companies steal designs from Apple. Apple has never copied a design. All of its designs are completely novel and original.

 

[coccodrillo]

Dude, I think he's Brazilian. Nudge nudge!

Never mind,
take it as a general statement then...

 

[rendevouspoo]

There's really no dispute here, but c'mon, a clock face? Are we going to start accusing Maxis of copying Sherwin-Williams' wallpaper because there's a similar shade of blue in the Sims?

How's this different than the many claims apple has made against others?

 

[a0me]

Seriously, Apple? First you release the ********* Maps app in history and now that?