Apple has patent tossed in U.S. lawsuit, multi-touch patent called into question
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Perhaps the most anticipated are the back-to-back patent suits between Apple and Motorola that will be taking place this summer. As we get closer to trial we are seeing more frequent rulings by the presiding judge. Earlier this week Apple lost on a request to compel Motorola to share information on the development of Android, and today we can report some additional rulings on specific patents. These rulings are on “claim construction”, the part of the pre-trial work where both sides argue over almost every significant work, to try and pin down exactly what a patent covers.
After earlier rounds of winnowing, Apple was left with 6 patents and Motorola with 3. After today Apple will have 5 patents remaining, and Judge Posner has specifically called into question some of the claims Apple is making in other key patents. The patent thrown out was for “a 'wrapper' that enables object-oriented applications to access procedural operating system services”. Judge Posner declared it invalid because the patent does not specify the means by which the patent would work – in other words the patent is so vague that it could cover almost anything.
Of the five remaining patents, the judge raised some serious questions about how broadly Apple’s key multi-touch patent was worded, indicating that as presented it the patent would refer to any touchscreen computer. That would be bad for Apple, because touchscreen computers most certainly existed before the iPhone, so it would be easy to invalidate the patent based on prior art.
Posner has requested that both sides file briefs on the touchscreen patent for next week, so we may find out fairly soon whether Apple’s “touchscreen heuristics” patent will pass enough muster to reach the trial phase. This is one of the key patents that Steve Jobs wanted to “kill Android” with, so a failure against Motorola in this case may lead to a significant slowdown in the smartphone patent wars.
Motorola also had one of its three patent claims called into question. Another patent is FRAND-based, so while it looks likely that they will win it, Apple will probably be able to escape an injunction while both sides work out a licensing deal.
Of course in both cases we hope that justice is served, but since we aren't legal experts, we hope that "the just" thing happens to coincide with the thing that could slow down the rate of lawsuits in our industry. We may find out sooner rather than later.
source: Foss Patents
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21 Comments
13. sprockkets posted on 22 Mar 2012, 22:38 2 0
And I'd gladly give of my time to testify in court on why this "heuristic" isn't new or novel in any way possible.
16. anywherehome posted on 23 Mar 2012, 00:19 9 3
and sue Apple for wasting time of the judges!
19. ZEUS.the.thunder.god posted on 23 Mar 2012, 07:35 2 0
"in other words the patent is so vague that it could cover almost anything."
99% ipatents are the same. do anybody remember a thing which apple invented after the very first iphone ?
answer is none.
4. theBankRobber posted on 22 Mar 2012, 17:45 15 0
My old Treo had a touch screen just with a physical keyboard instead of a full touch screen keyboard. Im glad this patents got called in by a real judge who knows what to look for in lawsuits. Its sad it has come to this but its time for the I sue u, u sue me crap to stop.
7. -box- posted on 22 Mar 2012, 19:13 10 2
Bwa.
Ha.
Ha.
Where do I send this judge a token of my esteemed appreciation?
Finally, an beginning to the end of apple's shouldn't-have-been-granted-in-the-first-place patents
8. tedkord posted on 22 Mar 2012, 19:34 1 0
Waitaminnit! An overly broad patent? How'd that one slip through?
9. InspectorGadget80 posted on 22 Mar 2012, 20:01 17 3
DEAR APPLE STOP BEING A PATENT TROLL AND TRYING TO CONTROL THE PATENT SYSTEM.
10. remixfa posted on 22 Mar 2012, 20:38 18 2
it would be hilarious if moto wins the FRAND patent and apple works out a licencing deal. Then they would be basically paying Google for every iOS device sold. OOOOHHH The irony.
11. InspectorGadget80 posted on 22 Mar 2012, 20:47 11 0
Com Judge be on the right side. DON'T TAKE APPLE dirty money
12. PostalJim posted on 22 Mar 2012, 21:27 12 0
Free Droid and Galaxy phones for that judge for LIFE!!!!
14. RORYREVOLUTION posted on 22 Mar 2012, 22:39 8 0
I cannot wait until the end of these patent wars. Not just for Apple but for everyone. It's getting so bad that companies are trying to sue each other for the stupidest things.
15. sgogeta4 posted on 22 Mar 2012, 22:56 11 0
Most of these companies are just counter-suing Apple for retarded lawsuits.
18. u-suck-more posted on 23 Mar 2012, 04:31 8 0
Apple has a vague patent? O.o soon they might file for another vague one and call it ''Phone'' hahaa
anyway LONG LIVE THE JUDGE
20. Habib posted on 23 Mar 2012, 10:35 0 0
ah this judge needs to go all around the world :D!
to make sure Apple does not sue for everything
21. PhoneCritic posted on 23 Mar 2012, 11:01 0 0
As much as I like Apple I have to admit that their patent claims were very vauge and really baseless and now the true is coming to light that you can't sue for what was already in exsistence.
