Can Apple Patent the Pinch? Experts Say It's Possible

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4phun - 24 Feb 2008 10:51 GMT

http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/news/2008/02/multitouch_patents

Is pinching proprietary? We may find out in the coming months as many
companies, inspired by the success of Apple's iPhone, release their
own multitouch-enabled laptops, smartphones and tablets. In doing so,
these companies -- including RIM, Nokia and Synaptics -- may run afoul
of multitouch patent applications recently filed by Apple.

"If Apple's patents are granted, the company could absolutely stop
others from using similar technology," says Raj Abhyanker, a patent
lawyer who used to write patent applications for Apple. "They'd also
be in an especially good position to stop others from including
certain features. Apple could stop [their use] not only on mobile
devices but also desktops."

Long article at the link , bottom line - no copying of the iPhone
interface which will be an Apple exclusive for mobile devices! No
Apple products for Verizon or Sprint using this new easy to use user
interface.

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Larry - 24 Feb 2008 15:26 GMT

> http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/news/2008/02/multitouch_pate
> nts
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Apple products for Verizon or Sprint using this new easy to use user
> interface.

You mean if Apple survives the collapse of its stock price, right?....

I think a more likely scenario is some college kid suing Apple for stealing
his ideas and Apple having to pay him royalties after the nasty court case
is resolved.

I can't believe 2007 was the first time anyone used two fingers on a
touchscreen to control a computer........

It will be fun to watch....

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News - 24 Feb 2008 15:42 GMT

> http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/news/2008/02/multitouch_patents
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Apple products for Verizon or Sprint using this new easy to use user
> interface.

Doesn't Immersion (IMMR) own this IP?

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David W Studeman - 28 Feb 2008 09:58 GMT

> http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/news/2008/02/multitouch_patents
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Apple products for Verizon or Sprint using this new easy to use user
> interface.

It's been around for a few decades now. Apple did not invent any new
technology here, they packaged a combination of it.

Dave

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SMS - 28 Feb 2008 16:05 GMT

>> http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/news/2008/02/multitouch_patents
>>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> It's been around for a few decades now. Apple did not invent any new
> technology here, they packaged a combination of it.

The real questions are a) whether a patent of the combination of those
technologies is in itself patentable, and b) if Apple was the first
company to combine them.

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