Apple today announced that it has filed suit against handset manufacturer HTC regarding alleged infringement of 20 iPhone-related patents. The patents cover such aspects as the user interface, architecture, and hardware. Apple today filed a lawsuit against HTC for infringing on 20 Apple patents related to the iPhone's user interface, underlying architecture and hardware. The lawsuit was filed concurrently with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in U.S. District Court in Delaware. "We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours." HTC has become a prominent player in the rapidly-growing Android handset market, and is Google's manufacturing partner for the Nexus One released earlier this year. Apple is currently involved in a number of high-profile patent lawsuits primarily stemming from the iPhone, but also extending into other aspects of the company's business. Apple and Nokia have filed suits against each other citing infringement of each other's patents, while Kodak recently filed complaints against Apple and Research in Motion related to digital camera patents. From: http://www.macrumors.com/2010/03/02...-htc-over-alleged-iphone-patent-infringement/
Actually, I had the idea to sue HTC first, so I'm going to sue Apple for stealing my idea to sue HTC :browani:
...maybe not, but I did call 'shotgun' so Steve Jobs has to ride in the backseat on the way to the courthouse
I've got no issues with Apple filing a suit if their claims are legit, but in general I just can't get over how "Microsoft" Apple has become.
I beg to differ. The rules of shotgun dictate that the vehicle must be in sight before calling shotgun. Its still on.
In that case, you leave me no choice but to invoke Section III Paragraph 1 "Survival of the Fittest" :browani:
Only the driver can invoke that rule. If you invoke it, you're driving anyway. You are guaranteed a front seat.
It seems that Apple is the Microsoft for the 21st century. They keep bullying around others, the government's going to start sniffing around their business practices like they did to Microsoft.
If that's the case why hasn't Apple sued Microsoft yet? There are so many things Windows has copied from Mac OS.
Microsoft became 'Apple' in 1985- 1990 when Windows 1-3 came out. Microsoft stole the entire icon/folder/mouse -like OS interface from Apple. Apple make a mistake by not pursuing their brand back then, and one thinks they do not wish to make that mistake again. IMO window 1 and 2 were trash. But with Windows 3, Apple gave too much away, or let MS copy too much. Over on another forum, some young 'whippersnapper' exclaimed, "what is Apple going to do next, claim that they invented 'cut & paste', Geez, they think they invented everything [when is comes out on the iPhone]. Well , Apple did invent 'cut & paste', and also all the icon like directories that Nokia uses on its phones, and Motorola, and ... [disclaimer: before I get dumped on, yes Apple's Lisa OS (renamed Mac OS) came out in 1983 and was largely based on Xerox's PARC research ideas. But, famously, Xerox did nothing commercially with it, and Xerox let Apple use it in exchange for shares of Apple stock. The rest is history and Apple didn't steal it, they bought it] Being old enough to remember my first Lisa OS based computer from Apple, I thought it was revolutionary. However, many IBM, DOS users said, "naw, that is not a real man's computer! It got to be line by line coding and steps, not some fairy like mouse and girly like icons you push/drag around" Well the rest is history... I see the same thing happening today with the people that hate the iPhone and it's clones, esp. the touch screen. However, the mgfr understand the market better...and hence all the clones coming out. But MS and Apple aways had a close relationship back in the late 80's. The first software for the Mac was MS office and the drag and drop/window pane spreadsheets that MS wrote, taking advantage of Apple's OS were just as revolutionary and have become the mainstay of spreadsheets/writing programs, etc over and above the way spreadsheets were done in DOS like environments. This software was written before MS came out with any windows OS IMHO
AnthroMatt: In my post above, I know you are talking about the legal action taken by Apple. I decided to stand on my soapbox about Apple regarding 'inventions'. Many claim that Apple made mistake in not licensing their OS back in the '80's and early '90's; instead that wanted it all; make PC and OS. It nearly killed them. But given how bad MS OS works with different mgfr of PC's ( or rather how individual it can become, each PC has it own quirks), Apple's model of complete control is paying off today. This is what I fear about Android and all the mgfr of it.
I hear ya, but it's a fine-line. Same with cellular technologies. When the EU agreed GSM would be the "new" cellular technology in the 90's, the US let the free market decide, which resulted in a mish-mash of thechnologies, of which GSM, CDMA and iDen were the final 3 contestants. The legacy is still a mess because now when people see a new phone they want they have to see if it's "compatible with my provider". In the EU you go to a store and you know every phone in there is compatible with your network. Finally, the US will all go LTE for 4G (ok, minus Sprint) so that will make the future easier. For phones OS's it is similar. All the mfgs started out with their own Java or Linux based OS (ok, except Windows Mobile) but now they are gravitating to "common" OS's like Android or Symbian, because of the "common platofrm" and compatibility, especially with 3rd party apps. Same like Windows and PC's. I've been using various PC's with differnt Windows for years, and no real problems, maybe a hard time finding an audio driver once, but i found it eventually. The hardware mfgs work close together with Windows, because it's in both their interests to do so. I think the same will come out with phones and OS's. Phone mfgs will have to work close with the OS mfgs, and it'll all work out. It's not the "iron fist" that Apple has, but altho you lose some "control" you gain some "variety" in return. I know you might find it hard to believe, but not everyone wants an iPhone
I fully understand and agree/accept that. However, all the phone manufactures want an 'iPhone' and that is the problem. I had been away from Apple products for 12+ years, out of frustration, and with success with the 'other' OS. Apple OS is not perfect, but it is truly very well integrated, it's simple and just works, and works very fast. It is the little things that make it a pleasure to work with, and they come about because of it's control of the hardware and software, and minimal devices to deal with. With 60 plus applications that I have invested in, it would take a very strong magnet to steal me away from that, and that is the 'hook'
Back on subject: From: Apple Reportedly Disrupting iPhone Competitors With Legal Threats Backed Up by HTC Suit - Mac Forums Fortune reports on a new research note from Oppenhiemer & Co.'s Yair Reiner claiming that Apple in January began high-level talks with major phone manufacturers expressing its displeasure with what it considers to be infringement of its iPhone-related intellectual property. According to the report, Apple's recent lawsuit against HTC has served to back up the company's position in these talks and has sent competitors scrambling to deal with the threat. Reiner writes: Starting in January, Apple launched a series of C-Level discussions with tier-1 handset makers to underscore its growing displeasure at seeing its iPhone-related IP [intellectual property] infringed. The lawsuit filed against HTC thus appears to be Apple's way of putting a public, lawyered-up exclamation point on a series of blunt conversations that have been occurring behind closed doors. Our checks also suggest that these warning shots are meaningfully disrupting the development roadmaps for would-be iPhone killers. Rival software and hardware teams are going back to the drawing board to look for work-arounds. Lawyers are redoubling efforts to gauge potential defensive and offensive responses. And strategy teams are working to chart OS strategies that are better hedged. Fortune's report offers more detail on Reiner's description of how events have unfolded, building from Apple's January 2009 promise to aggressively defend its iPhone intellectual property to the company's decision to press its position as other multi-touch handsets have begun to come to market. Reiner also notes that much of the conflict has occurred with companies utilizing Google's Android operating system, which is seen as Apple's true target. In response, Microsoft has reportedly begun seizing the opportunity by pushing forward with promotion of its Windows Phone operating system and patent portfolio, indicating that it is willing to stand closely with its partner handset manufacturers in any intellectual property dispute.
