Swiss Federal Railways Says Apple Copied Its Iconic Railway Clock

[javaGuru]

Boycott Swiss Federal Railways!!!

 

[parapup]

So, the only bit of iOS 6 that Apple got right, is... copied.

The other one - Do Not Disturb, if it works(unlike Alarms that Apple kept having issues with) is stolen too. (CyanogenMod Quiet Hours)

 

[agadosz]

Braun calculator design

not sure apple had similar kind of problem with its first design of calculator app on iPhone. http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2007/07/iphones-design/

 

[Starship77]

Looks like they didn't like the homage...

 

[choupk]

Twice a day the Apple clock will be an exact copy of the Swiss one.

Those two times a day pass by instantaneously. The amount of time of copyright infringement approaches zero everyday.

 

[macMD]

If the SBB has a copyright on the design and Apple used it willfully without permission and/or compensation then they are in violation. It has nothing to do with a win in one court or another by one defendant or Apple.

As noted in the Samsung lawsuit Apple accused them of using icons that were too similar to theirs. So graphics are a point of contention and in Apple's eyes worth defending.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

 

[blinkin182]

Apple: "We would try to reference this occurrence but unfortunately our new mapping solution cannot locate Switzerland"

Sadly so true... iOS 6 maps data for Switzerland is abysmal!

It's funny... I also immediately noticed the design resemblance, only thing it doesn't replicate is the short pause the seconds ticker marks before moving the minutes hand, but other than that this design is quite famous and a mark of pride for the Swiss Federal Rail Service (every single station has these on each track).

 

[shartypants]

The Swiss are wrong .. the Apple clock says 9:38 and the railroad clock says 12:40. Silly Swiss.

They will set the court time for 12:40

 

[Medic311]

the individual minute increment lines are thinner proportionally on the iOS clock than the Swiss clock. apple will win

 

[centauratlas]

We are missing the SJ influence. All kidding aside you need to have one person who has design consistency to say "no" and keep tweaking things until they are right. Someone who lives and breathes it and has the authority to stop stupid stuff.

I actually like a lot of it, but there are some things that are inconsistent.

What the heck happened to iOS6?

It's littered with cockups.

 

[oldwatery]

Apple = Hypocrites.

 

[Hitch08]

This is sad.

 

[citivolus]

Wait, I thought Apple invented time?

 

[Morgo]

Gosh, the Apple clock does appear very very similar on the face of it. I'll wait until the court settles it, however I'll be very disappointed in Apple if the judgement goes against them as with all their R&D resources and budget to hand there is no excuse to lift someone else's design.

 

[xodiak]

That peanut butter sandwhich looks just like my peanut butter sandwhich. hmm

 

[entatlrg]

That clock face design is extremely popular and has been used by Asian watchmakers for decades, so much so it seems like a generic design ... who'd know there was a trademarked original in the first place .... except the Swiss of course. See, it's the fault of Asian counterfeiting companies, again

When you screw up you fix it or pay up, Apple should and will do the right thing.

 

[dpruitt]

Wtf?!?

Apple.. just buy Switzerland, and this crummy railroad company and burn them to the ground. Railroad, really? Isn't it 2012?

 

[TheReadyPrompt]

I love it. Inject Apple with a bit of its own venom, Swiss Federal Railway. More power to you.

(Disclaimer: I am a user of Apple products, including iPhone. Direct comments about android fanboyism to the trash.)

 

[KittiFatale]

Somebody's desperate for attention.

 

[mlenger]

Should be public domain?

I am not a lawyer but i know SBB is a government institution and as such I believe they can not own the design. Its like the US charging everybody for the reprinting of their flag.

 

[netdog]

Apple will do the right thing. It was obviously an oversight.

And for what it's worth, the picked a nice clock to emulate.

 

[derbladerunner]

I thought it was a rip-off of the railway clock immediately upon seeing it, (despite my location and username I'm not Swiss).

But maybe they aren't the first?
http://itunes.apple.com/app/swissrailwayclock/id306098880?mt=8

Big difference. That developer licensed the design and got approval...

SBB owns the copyright to the clock. Originally it was designed by Hans Hilfiker in 1944. Today, the clock is among the most famous Swiss design icons.

Back in 2009, developer Thomas Feger launched a clock App with Hilfiker’s design. He had SBB’s permission. Feger calls Apple’s move «brass.» He believes that company was inspired by his App.

http://www.hossli.com/observations/2012/09/20/apple-steals-from-swiss-railways/

Every designer knows about this. There's no excuse.

 

[ng-design]

Ordinarily I would say it's not a big deal... But given the billion dollar lawsuits Apple has launched against other people for infringement, I'd have to say this one is fair game. They are way too similar to be coincidence.

I think Apple can afford to compensate them for using their design. And it's a nice design too. I love the clean, modern look of it.

 

[Lennholm]

Since Apple could patent a rectangle with round corners, this is an open and shut case.

 

[uknowimright]

Apple.. just buy Switzerland, and this crummy railroad company and burn them to the ground. Railroad, really? Isn't it 2012?

trains in Europe are pretty awesome