VIA Technologies Files Patent Lawsuit Against Apple Over iOS Device Processors

[samcraig]

Everyone wants a piece of the Apple pie, now that Apple's changed the game (several times) and the also-rans are struggling in key markets because they just can't capture consumer interest like Apple can.

Except Apple didn't do it by strong-arming.

They didn't do it by anti-competitive activity that landed them a conviction.

They didn't do it by compulsion, duress, or brute force.

They did it by creating great products, by actually giving a damn about what they put their name to, and by following this guy's vision:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaJp66ArJVI

It's that simple. And the surprising (or not so surprising) thing is, is that the also-rans still haven't figured it out, well over a decade later.

Sorry - you lost me with point #1. Seriously? Apple hasn't strong-armed anyone? Not publishers, not the music industry, not vendors, etc?

PS - your constant use of "also-rans" is getting tiresome. As is/will be trotting out that youtube video every time you want to kiss Apple's behind in a post.

Point #2 - "that landed them a conviction." HAHA - clever.

 

[Oletros]

It doesn't take a fanboy to see that Apple is suing for legitimate reasons most of the time, and other companies are suing Apple for bogus reasons.

Ah, the only legitimate to sue is Apple? All the other companies are patent trolls and are suing Apple for bogus reasons?

 

[Steve121178]

Everyone wants a piece of the Apple pie, now that Apple's changed the game (several times) and the also-rans are struggling in key markets because they just can't capture consumer interest like Apple can.

Except Apple didn't do it by strong-arming.

They didn't do it by anti-competitive activity that landed them a conviction.

They didn't do it by compulsion, duress, or brute force.

They did it by creating great products, by actually giving a damn about what they put their name to, and by following this guy's vision:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaJp66ArJVI

It's that simple. And the surprising (or not so surprising) thing is, is that the also-rans still haven't figured it out, well over a decade later.

You have made dozens of posts about Apple protecting their IP, but the same logic & rules apply to everyone!

If it's proved that Apple has stolen their IP, then they must pay.

 

[jameskatt]

Death Penalty for Lawyers

The best thing to do is to given the death penalty to lawyers in patent and copyright suits if they either settle or lose the lawsuit. Only if they outright win would they get to keep their lives.

Fewer lawyers make for a better world.

 

[gnomeisland]

You know what the HUGE problem is with patenting intellectual property?
It IS actually possible for two separate people (or teams or people) to come up with the same idea (or a very similar one) without any knowledge of the other person/team. Is it not possible that whatever VIA is suing Apple for, Apple created without any knowledge that VIA had "already done it?"

Just my two Cents...

Totally possible. Happens all the time. Doesn't mean the case gets dropped but it does IMHO make the copying more ethical. Purposefully copying is not only wrong but ethically suspect and I think Apple's justified in protecting their IP that's being copied. That said, I wonder if they appreciated how big of a pandora's box they would be opening.

 

[PracticalMac]

Everybody's against apple now.. I wonder who else will against apple.. Hope that iPhone 5 will not be the last iPhone!!

Same happened with Microsoft. They had the money.


Maybe Apple should buy up the smaller companies that might have a case against Apple?
Be easier to buy then fight in court, especially if Apple losses.

 

[DESNOS]

Create a patent section already. Scrap the Mac blog, and iOS blog and send all that news to the front page. Last I checked, you're here to report on Mac and iOS news anyway. Nobody wants to read this patent nonsense. Why this is put on the front page, while some stories we might actually be interested in get second chair on the Mac/iOS blog is beyond me.

Please arn. Pretty please.

 

[HyperX13]

You invent something, someone copies it, you invent something else someone else copies that. Never ending cycle of copying others. Then the lawsuits come, not just from one angle but various angles.

Such a wasteful use of time and resources. (lawsuits). It's destroying everything. Everyone should just be able to copy everyone else, then the best product wins. Also, best price.

Can I ask you an honest question. Are you writing this from some socialist country or do you work at the White House? How can one make money if his/her ideas are copied? What would be the point of inventing things if you can't profit on those things?

 

[Cander]

What comes around goes around. Apple is merely getting a taste of its own medicine.

Apple was not the one to fire the first shot.

 

[helmsc]

Did Apple themselves customize the ARM CPUs? I don't have a clue. If not, shouldn't VIA be going after whatever company make the custom chip?

 

[chrmjenkins]

So, if a company only sues another one and not a lot it is a patent troll? Even if they produce products?

I suppose Apple has started suits against ALL Android manufactures, don't they?

As I clearly stated, VIA has no demonstrable interest in actually protecting their IP. HTC, Motorola, Apple, Samsung etc. all do, and are different cases, regardless of whether their measures are proactive or reactionary. VIA is just looking to cash in on the war without protecting any of its actual products. A really good indicator is the fact that VIA doesn't even compete in the markets of the products it is suing.

Look at their list of microprocessors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Technologies#Processors

Their lowest TDP is 2.5W. That is too high for any tablet, smartphone or MID application. They are not losing sales in this market because they don't compete in it. This is completely different than HTC, Motorola, Apple and Samsung suing each other because they are direct competitors.

 

[bbeagle]

Ah, the only legitimate to sue is Apple? All the other companies are patent trolls and are suing Apple for bogus reasons?

I never said that.

I said that according to the recent lawsuits, Apple's are with merit, and the others are without merit.

It doesn't mean that a lawsuit could come in the future against Apple that has some teeth, and I will point it out. But only anti-Apple fan boys see any legitimacy in these current lawsuits against Apple.

 

[kiljoy616]

Everybody's against apple now.. I wonder who else will against apple.. Hope that iPhone 5 will not be the last iPhone!!

Like lawsuits are any big deal. This is normal in today's market. Just be glad food does not have the same value or who know what kind of food we could actually get.

Oh wait they have them also.

http://www.cracked.com/article_16469_the-7-most-bizarre-fast-food-industry-lawsuits.html

 

[justperry]

Create a patent section already. Scrap the Mac blog, and iOS blog and send all that news to the front page. Last I checked, you're here to report on Mac and iOS news anyway. Nobody wants to read this patent nonsense. Why this is put on the front page, while some stories we might actually be interested in get second chair on the Mac/iOS blog is beyond me.

Please arn. Pretty please.

I agree, the old Mr was better but thats my opinion.

 

[MaxCast]

Yeah, a new forum for law suits and new store openings.

 

[justperry]

Apple was not the one to fire the first shot.

Does that matter?

 

[1=1?]

What's going on here is "The best defense is a good offense." Apple is getting what they deserve. Hopefully this dies down eventually and the companies can spend their money on innovation and design again rather than lawyers and court fees.

 

[nanotlj]

Via's not exactly a competitor to Apple....

Via's wife, HTC, is actually a competitor to apple. Remember Via gave/sold c3 to hope to save his wife htc, just like google gave patents to htc to sue apple.

 

[a.gomez]

wow HTC sure has lots of friends

 

[Oneness]

Like there would be a patent dispute able to prevent Apple from selling all iOS devices in the US- if such a thing existed it would have happened by now.

You're probably right, but wouldn't it be great if they won and Apple had to stop selling its products in the US. Choas ensues!!!!
I'm rooting for VIA just for this reason. (and I love Apple products)

I'm hoping to get to the point where EVERYONE can't sell their products because of patent disputes. That would be great.

 

[KingCrimson]

Please tell me this, why is it when Apple is suing, they are the Noble Knight in shining Armour, defending their hard worked ideas and inventions. But when someone sues Apple, its the company:

• Being greedy
• Doing it because they're scared of Apple
• Patent Trolling
• It's must be their only source of income
• They want a piece of "Apples Pie"

And no, I will not accept "But, but Apple revolutionized xxxxx and yyyyy. This makes them above the law"

Exactly. Every time Apple is sued, they are the victim of greedy evil idiots. When they sue, they are morally 100% right. Is it any wonder people hate Apple-fanatics?

 

[jiarizti]

Maybe for a very diferent reazon

I'm wondering if all this is to force Apple to disclose how they engeneered their chip when trying to defend itself from this lawsuit, due to the fact that the A4 outperforms any similar chips in the market.

 

[Iamthinking]

Apple learned from the best

I am thinking that Apple learned a very important lesson about patents and lawsuits from Microshaft 25+ years ago, which was that "...it's nothing personal....it's just the cost of doing business."

 

[bbeagle]

Exactly. Every time Apple is sued, they are the victim of greedy evil idiots. When they sue, they are morally 100% right. Is it any wonder people hate Apple-fanatics?

Exactly. Every time Apple sues, they are greedy idiots. When others sue them, they are morally 100% right. Is it any wonder people hate anti-Apple fanatics?

 

[Wicked1]

They are all just trying to get some money from Apple or have Apple spend all theirs on stupid lawsuits. This all can go on forever and maybe 5% has a valid case, but let's face it, this happens all over with all sorts of industries.

Nothing anyone of us says will have any impact on any of this, however they are all just trying to avoid pulling an HP even though most of them know this will happen.