Swiss Federal Railways to meet with Apple over iOS 6 clock design
Swiss Federal Railways, the owner of an iconic clock face design, is set to meet with Apple to reach an agreement over the digital clock face found in the iPad version of its iOS 6 mobile operating system.
Left: Apple's iOS 6 clock. Right: the clock design owned by SBB.
Officials with the railway service, known as SBB, told global news service AFP (via Cnet) that they will meet with Apple in the coming weeks to discuss the matter. No agreement has been made, but SBB spokeswoman Patricia Claivaz said the two sides would "talk about it."
Earlier, inaccurate reports had claimed that the SBB was demanding financial compensation for Apple over the clock design found in iOS 6. Claivaz dismissed those reports as "speculation."
Rather, the SBB is "proud" that Apple has chosen to use the iconic clock design in iOS 6, she said, noting that it was flattering to have a "brand as important as Apple" use their design.
"There are a lot of brands that use the SBB logo, though nothing like Apple," she added. "It's not just about exchanging money, rather drawing up a contract stating where the logo can be used, under what conditions and for how long."
The original clock design was created in 1944 by Swiss engineer Hans Hilfiker. It remains the property of SBB, and is still used in the Swiss operation's train stations.
SBB licenses the clock designs for various products, including its own collection of watches that are available for sale.
Left: Apple's iOS 6 clock. Right: the clock design owned by SBB.
Officials with the railway service, known as SBB, told global news service AFP (via Cnet) that they will meet with Apple in the coming weeks to discuss the matter. No agreement has been made, but SBB spokeswoman Patricia Claivaz said the two sides would "talk about it."
Earlier, inaccurate reports had claimed that the SBB was demanding financial compensation for Apple over the clock design found in iOS 6. Claivaz dismissed those reports as "speculation."
Rather, the SBB is "proud" that Apple has chosen to use the iconic clock design in iOS 6, she said, noting that it was flattering to have a "brand as important as Apple" use their design.
"There are a lot of brands that use the SBB logo, though nothing like Apple," she added. "It's not just about exchanging money, rather drawing up a contract stating where the logo can be used, under what conditions and for how long."
The original clock design was created in 1944 by Swiss engineer Hans Hilfiker. It remains the property of SBB, and is still used in the Swiss operation's train stations.
SBB licenses the clock designs for various products, including its own collection of watches that are available for sale.
Comments
Tell SFR that they can use for free Apple's slightly more elegant reworking of the original design, and call it even.
Allow them to call it the William Tell version. ;-)
The only thing original about that Swiss clock seems to be the red ball on the seconds hand. Besides that, it looks like any average, common clock.
If the Swiss railways demands even a single penny, then Apple should just change the red ball on the Apple clock and make it into an arrow or something.
And the response from Samsung's attorneys:
They look nothing alike. Look - the hands are pointing in different directions.
Actually, that is the original ... looks pretty unimproveable to me
But they won't. Those arguments are only for use against Apple.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jragosta
And the response from Samsung's attorneys:
They look nothing alike. Look - the hands are pointing in different directions.
Actually there are a number of subtle differences, probably enough to not be infringing legally, although, I wonder why Apple even decided to make it so similar or if it was coincidental.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phone-UI-Guy
Change the app. The phone version is fine.
funny you say that, because the phone version share a resemblance to the classic IBM clock. (minus the hatch marks of course, and I'm sure that's on purpose). Heck, Microsft is even a closer copy-cat (note I couldn't find an image but it does have the option of a Red Second-Hand).
Actually, they are meeting to strike a deal for SFR to provide their train schedule as a data source for iOS Maps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mstone
Actually there are a number of subtle differences, probably enough to not be infringing legally, although, I wonder why Apple even decided to make it so similar or if it was coincidental.
Give me a break. That is an clear and obvious copy job as I can imagine. As soon as I saw it on my iPad, I showed my wife and say "hey look they did the Swiss railway clock design." Maybe Samsung would try to argue that they didn't copy it if they had done it, but there is no way Apple will insist that they just stumbled onto the "obvious" design.
I think they made a beautiful copy, but if they want to continue using it, they should meet SBB's conditions. Or just switch to another design, no big deal.
I would not say it looks like IBM. Every element is different. No hash marks as you say. Hands don't have a tail. Hands are shaped different. Font is different (look at the 1). Just about every clock I saw as a kid had black hour/ minute hands and red second hand. Maybe they all copy each other, but you won't get infringement claims for every Elmer being different.
I just don't get it, out of a million diff clock designs, they HAVE to use this version? There are plenty of alternatives.
Quote:
Originally Posted by malax
Give me a break. That is an clear and obvious copy job as I can imagine. As soon as I saw it on my iPad, I showed my wife and say "hey look they did the Swiss railway clock design." Maybe Samsung would try to argue that they didn't copy it if they had done it, but there is no way Apple will insist that they just stumbled onto the "obvious" design.
I think they made a beautiful copy, but if they want to continue using it, they should meet SBB's conditions. Or just switch to another design, no big deal.
How many differences are required to not be a copy in your mind?
Isn't it an analog clock face? The flashing 12:00 on my VCR is a digital clock face.
OK. Fixed!
It's a digital representation of an analog clock.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mandalax
Actually, that is the original ... looks pretty unimproveable to me
Quote:
Originally Posted by mstone
How many differences are required to not be a copy in your mind?
More than Apple made - especially when you see that photo of the clock in the analog world..... ....c'mon, there's defending Apple and then there's "Apple can do no wrong." I'm frequently involved in doing the first, but not always the second, because at some point you become a "spinner."
And I'll add that Warner Bros. could've made a beef over the similarity between the iTunes icon and some variations on the old Looney Tunes logo... ...as close as Samesong's "resemblances" in some cases.....