Home
›
News
›
Patently ridiculous: Apple gets slide to unlock patent

Patently ridiculous: Apple gets slide to unlock patent

Posted: 25 Oct 2011, 17:46, by Michael H.

Categories: Apple Apple Software Software Bookmark

Discuss 118

Patently ridiculous: Apple gets slide to unlock patent

Once again the US Patent & Trademark Office has proven that its workers have too many patents to sort through and not nearly the expertise, common sense, or clear mandate to properly consider each filing. In the newest mess in our series "Patently ridiculous", Apple has finally been granted the patent for the slide to unlock gesture that is used on iOS devices.

The patent, which had been filed all the way back in 2005, was issued this morning by the USPTO. It likely made it through because no one at the USPTO had ever used a Discman, or any number of laptops which also had slide to unlock mechanisms, or because once you put that same exact mechanism into software on a touchscreen device, it magically becomes unique and patentable.

The extra scary thing about this patent is that while the images provided for the patent application are the standard slide to unlock seen on iOS devices, the language of the patent is written so broadly that it covers any gesture used to unlock a touchscreen device. The title of the patent is actually "Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image", so could theoretically cover all forms of unlocking including that seen in the Sense UI or on Honeycomb/ICS devices.

Still, well done to Apple for taking advantage of such a broken system. We'll update you tomorrow when there is likely to be a rash of new patent lawsuits filed against Android manufacturers.

source: USPTO via 9 to 5 Mac

Discuss118

Prev news
Apple is most popular electronics brand among youths, says poll 25 Oct

Next news
No monkey business here, Samsung GALAXY Nexus does not have Gorilla Glass 25 Oct

118 Comments
Follow Following

Post Comment
View options
Close
Show comments: Display mode:

1. bananakid posted on 25 Oct 2011, 17:55 16 1

In return, Google should patent slide-down/up/left/right notification bar

7. andro. posted on 25 Oct 2011, 18:33 14 4

Google prob hasn't patented it as google is more about open source. Apple on the other hand is hand us all your money and stop competing with and bow on your knees or we will sue

112. E.J.Su posted on 26 Oct 2011, 17:49 0 0

Apple doesn't want competitors' money, they just don't want anyone to compete, at all.

117. NeXoS posted on 26 Oct 2011, 23:32 0 0

Apple didn't invent this, someone else already did:

Exhibit A: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj-KS2kfIr0

Skip to 3:55

2. toaster posted on 25 Oct 2011, 18:11 6 3

This patent war is ridiculous and limits innovation. I wish that Apple would stop finding reasons to sue Android OEMs into oblivion and actually make a device that they feel can compete, because this patent mess clearly shows that they don't.

I hope this patent is ruled too general, instead it should be something along the lines to "slide to a preordained target to unlock phone". This would allow the Sense-style ring, as you can drag it anywhere on the screen to unlock.

4. pongkie posted on 25 Oct 2011, 18:22 1 2

it would probably ruled too general

3. tomast posted on 25 Oct 2011, 18:13 5 0

so if apple does sue htc for the lock screen what does it mean for people who have a sense 3.0 device?

5. som posted on 25 Oct 2011, 18:27 9 3

Shut down the Patents Office wasted so much time and money on Apple's Patents applications and approval. If Apple were a car maker nobody could built car with 4 wheels.

8. Sackboy117 posted on 25 Oct 2011, 18:35 2 1

Exactly what i was thinking. For example, all TVs look alike, work alike but made by many different companies. So What if there was a patent that prevented the TV to be turned on by pushing a button (

38. messiah posted on 25 Oct 2011, 22:26 2 1

apple pays well for these findings. patent officers are well rewarded for their comissions. its not rocket science folks.

60. ivanko34 posted on 26 Oct 2011, 00:49 0 2

i am sure apple is trying to patent the 4 wheels cars

86. andro. posted on 26 Oct 2011, 05:56 2 1

Indeed if apple were the first to market a mobile phones then they would have it patented so only there phones can be used by human hands as they invented it,all other type phones would have to be worked using other body limbs and appendages.

Mind you the apple phones would have poor reception still due to the hands on the antenas!!

This comment has been moderated, because it doesn`t meet the discussion rules. Show

6. andro. posted on 25 Oct 2011, 18:32 13 3

This a total joke but then everything is so anti competitive with apple these days what else can we expect. The thing is there have been touchscreen phones with unlock functions well before the time of the iphone 1.

Apple will keep going with this draconian anti competitive market controlling attempts as long as 4 millions brainless idiots keep buying the same phone from them year after year after year

This comment has been moderated, because it doesn`t meet the discussion rules. Show

9. Johnny_Mnemonic posted on 25 Oct 2011, 18:44 2 2

Good one andro 4 millions brainless that's funny jajajajajaja you are so right

This comment has been moderated, because it doesn`t meet the discussion rules. Show

10. Johnny_Mnemonic posted on 25 Oct 2011, 18:45 4 2

Taco is one of them Jajjaja

This comment has been moderated, because it doesn`t meet the discussion rules. Show

11. cc16177 posted on 25 Oct 2011, 18:58 4 2

Suck my d**k apple.

12. Sniggly posted on 25 Oct 2011, 19:03 5 2

*sighs heavily* Okay, Apple, give us your best shot. Bring it on. Attack the consumers once more.

This comment is hidden because of its low rating. Show

13. taco50 posted on 25 Oct 2011, 19:07 6 17

You're articles are getting worse Michael. You're going full blown fanboy. Please report the stories without your bias.

Thanks

21. cc16177 posted on 25 Oct 2011, 20:49 3 6

Go somewhere else...? This patent is ridiculous, if you feel otherwise I recommend visiting a neurologist and having a brain scan done.