Taiwan concerned Apple's slide-to-unlock patent could hurt market
Government officials in Taiwan have expressed concern that Apple's recent success in obtaining a patent for the slide-to-unlock gesture on touchscreen devices could hurt competing smartphone makers.
This week, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Apple another patent related to the slide-to-unlock gesture found on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. That key patent win for Apple has caused concern among officials in Taiwan, according to Focus Taiwan (via Electronista).
Taiwan Premier Wu Den-yih reportedly asked government agencies this week to assess the possible impact of Apple's patent win on local companies. One of the most noteworthy corporations based out of Taiwan is HTC, which has already seen patent litigation trouble with Apple.
Wu, speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting, is reportedly "very concerned" about the impact Apple's new patent could have on Taiwanese companies, especially those who compete with Apple to sell smartphones and tablets. He directed the country's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Industrial Research Institute to look into the matter.
As a result of his actions, those two agencies could end up collaborating with Taiwanese companies to settle potential patent infringement lawsuits with Apple, if need be. The premier reportedly said that the agencies should "do their best to help defend the legitimate rights and interest of local companies in any patent fights with Apple."
Apple's newly awarded patent has been viewed as a victory for the company, with onlookers speculating that touchscreen products running the Google Android operating system could be found in violation. Apple has been engaged with a number of Android device makers beyond HTC, including Samsung and Motorola.
In the newly released authorized biography of Steve Jobs, the late Apple co-founder lashed out against Google's Android mobile operating system, calling it a "stolen product." Jobs's ire toward Android was made clear in an "expletive-laced rant" that he made to author Walter Isaacson.
"I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple's $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong," he said. "I'm going to destroy Android, because it's a stolen product. I'm willing to go thermonuclear war on this."
This week, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Apple another patent related to the slide-to-unlock gesture found on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. That key patent win for Apple has caused concern among officials in Taiwan, according to Focus Taiwan (via Electronista).
Taiwan Premier Wu Den-yih reportedly asked government agencies this week to assess the possible impact of Apple's patent win on local companies. One of the most noteworthy corporations based out of Taiwan is HTC, which has already seen patent litigation trouble with Apple.
Wu, speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting, is reportedly "very concerned" about the impact Apple's new patent could have on Taiwanese companies, especially those who compete with Apple to sell smartphones and tablets. He directed the country's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Industrial Research Institute to look into the matter.
As a result of his actions, those two agencies could end up collaborating with Taiwanese companies to settle potential patent infringement lawsuits with Apple, if need be. The premier reportedly said that the agencies should "do their best to help defend the legitimate rights and interest of local companies in any patent fights with Apple."
Apple's newly awarded patent has been viewed as a victory for the company, with onlookers speculating that touchscreen products running the Google Android operating system could be found in violation. Apple has been engaged with a number of Android device makers beyond HTC, including Samsung and Motorola.
In the newly released authorized biography of Steve Jobs, the late Apple co-founder lashed out against Google's Android mobile operating system, calling it a "stolen product." Jobs's ire toward Android was made clear in an "expletive-laced rant" that he made to author Walter Isaacson.
"I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple's $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong," he said. "I'm going to destroy Android, because it's a stolen product. I'm willing to go thermonuclear war on this."
Comments
Government officials in Taiwan have expressed concern that Apple's recent success in obtaining a patent for the slide-to-unlock gesture on touchscreen devices could hurt competing smartphone makers.
Or maybe they could simply come up with their own way to unlock their phones.
The slide gesture for this purpose was definitely something I first saw on Apple.
Or maybe they could simply come up with their own way to unlock their phones.
Or license it? Sheesh - all of Taiwan is concerned?
Or license it?
Apple might not want to license it ..
If I were Tim Cook, I wouldn't license it. Pfizer didn't license the Viagra patent. Why should I license my "slide to unlock"?
And if Apple wants to keep its innovations to ensure product differentiation from its competitors they should be able to do that, no?
damn, apple versus all of Taiwan?
I can think of a couple of gestures (no copyright) the Taiwanese government might be seeing a lot of in the near future.
I don't get this. Surely there are plenty of other gestures could be used to unlock a touchscreen? This is just a pretext for going after Apple.
The slide gesture for this purpose was definitely something I first saw on Apple.
Apparently if most people saw it first on Apple device, that means Apple owns it. It's not a novel idea of Apple's, but like all things they 'borrow' and bring to masses they will get credit along with exploitation rights.
It isn't just 'slide to unlock'. It is the whole package of a preset by the maker slide at a preset by the maker spot, shown to the user by a UI element that shows what to do and where.
A user defined gesture, which is typical on non Apple devices, isn't touched by this patent
Apparently if most people saw it first on Apple device, that means Apple owns it. It's not a novel idea of Apple's, but like all things they 'borrow' and bring to masses they will get credit along with exploitation rights.
Don't be a tool.
Apple *did* invent this idea. Not only is there nothing like it out there, the only implementations that are even vaguely similar were thought up *after* Apple applied for this patent.
What I find interesting is that it's days after the granting of the patent and still I haven't read a single article that can point to anyone violating this patent. I'm not saying they aren't out there, but come on, if I was doing research for this very piece I would want to find out what kind of unlock schemes each of the competitors had, post videos of them in the body of the article and then have a bit of a debate about whether any of them violate Apple's patent.
This is lame, lazy reporting at best.
It's fairly clear that Google's "gesture to unlock" is not covered by this patent, is anything else? Let's get some actual examples and facts for a change.
Don't be a tool.
Apple *did* invent this idea. Not only is there nothing like it out there, the only implementations that are even vaguely similar were thought up *after* Apple applied for this patent.
What I find interesting is that it's days after the granting of the patent and still I haven't read a single article that can point to anyone violating this patent. I'm not saying they aren't out there, but come on, if I was doing research for this very piece I would want to find out what kind of unlock schemes each of the competitors had, post videos of them in the body of the article and then have a bit of a debate about whether any of them violate Apple's patent.
This is lame, lazy reporting at best.
It's fairly clear that Google's "gesture to unlock" is not covered by this patent, is anything else? Let's get some actual examples and facts for a change.
A Dutch court ruled an earlier Apple patent on the slide to unlock gesture was invalid because of prior art. The Neonode N1m phone running Windows CE had a similar gesture in 2006, but it didn't display a graphic. Apple added that to the new patent, but it's entirely possible a court will rule that to be "obvious" and unpatentable.
A Dutch court ruled an earlier Apple patent on the slide to unlock gesture was invalid because of prior art. The Neonode N1m phone running Windows CE had a similar gesture in 2006, but it didn't display a graphic. Apple added that to the new patent, but it's entirely possible a court will rule that to be "obvious" and unpatentable.
This is a position I can support. Apple does appear to have the first patent and no "prior art" does what is explained in their patent, but I can see a court invalidating this patent because it's "obvious" as an inevitable way people will unlock a flat surface with a long history of physical doors having a flat slider to un/lock.
Gosh, I wonder what smartphones did before slide-to-unlock? I can't think of any solution!!!!
You hit the large Menu button in the center of the giant keyboard.
Don't be a tool.
Apple *did* invent this idea. Not only is there nothing like it out there, the only implementations that are even vaguely similar were thought up *after* Apple applied for this patent.
What I find interesting is that it's days after the granting of the patent and still I haven't read a single article that can point to anyone violating this patent. I'm not saying they aren't out there, but come on, if I was doing research for this very piece I would want to find out what kind of unlock schemes each of the competitors had, post videos of them in the body of the article and then have a bit of a debate about whether any of them violate Apple's patent.
This is lame, lazy reporting at best.
It's fairly clear that Google's "gesture to unlock" is not covered by this patent, is anything else? Let's get some actual examples and facts for a change.
This has been posted repeatedly, but whatever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj-KS...ature=youtu.be
Slide to unlock is demonstrated around 4:00 mark.
Apple added graphics to the feature and called it their own. Maybe Apple applied for the patent before this phone was developed, but that'd be news to me. Of course the worry is that they'll use this to go on another streak of lawsuits against competition.