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Patently ridiculous: Apple granted patent for something it was already sued for infringing upon

Patently ridiculous: Apple granted patent for something it was already sued for infringing upon

Posted: 09 Aug 2011, 20:47, by Michael H.

Categories: Apple Apple Software Software Bookmark

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Patently ridiculous: Apple granted patent for something it was already sued for infringing upon

Apple won a slew of new patents today, although only three of them directly impact mobile devices, and of those, two seem to be blatantly a part of the "bogus patents" that Google sounded off about recently. We've already covered how the U.S. patent system needs an overhaul, so with this news we'll try not to get too deep into how absurd the new Apple patents are, but we will count this as the first part of an ongoing series covering the ridiculous patents granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The new patents related to mobile that Apple has won include patents on: integrated touchscreens, pre-loading data on startup, and visual voicemail.

The patent for integrated touchscreens isn't necessarily for mobile devices, but currently only mobile Apple devices have touchscreen displays. The patent covers a process of stacking together touch-sensitive circuitry into an LCD display to decrease the number of parts and steps in the manufacturing process, as well as making a display that is "thinner, brighter, and require[s] less power." Apple first applied for this patent in September of 2009.

The next two patents are the ones that could easily fall into the "bogus" category which Google seems to want to be rid of. First, Apple won a patent for loading startup applications influenced by users. This is a fancy way to say multiple user accounts may soon be coming to iPhones, iPods and iPads, because this process allows for loading up certain data (perhaps contacts, calendar, messages, etc) based on user input. This system could also be applied to having different profiles on a mobile device, so certain data would be preloaded for work, home, etc. when booting the device.

The craziest patent won by Apple is for their visual voicemail system, which Apple applied for the day before the OG iPhone launched back in 2007. What is most ridiculous is that the visual voicemail patent covers selection and playback of voicemail, and Apple was sued for infringing basically the same patent (and remember, patents are meant to represent original ideas,) held by Klausner Technologies. The case was settled, and Klausner is actually cited as a reference in this patent.

source: Patently Apple

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1. lubbalots (unregistered) posted on 10 Aug 2011, 00:41 13 1

Apple is worth billions now. Almost number one above exxon. They can basically do whatever they want. Just throw a few "greens" to the lawyers and lobbyists and everything is solved.

10. dionddc posted on 10 Aug 2011, 04:19 5 2

They won't be there for long.

11. shafboy posted on 10 Aug 2011, 06:04 2 0

Yeah but common.. Apple are doing a great job but I think competition should still be there to make it interesting

2. Sniggly posted on 10 Aug 2011, 01:05 13 2

Jesus. Really? Really, patent office? I can already load multiple Google accounts onto my Android phone which load my data and settings as the phone boots. Multiple accounts have been possible on Android since 2010.

12. FNugget (unregistered) posted on 10 Aug 2011, 06:43 1 0

Obviously you don't know how patents work, as the patent for "multiple accounts" was filed in 2007.

33. Penny posted on 10 Aug 2011, 17:53 0 0

I don't know if this is right, or I may be crazy, but I swear I've seen multiple user accounts somewhere before - oh, that's right, it was on my WINDOWS PC. I think this practice started somewhere near the beginning of time. But let's not go there lest Apple should claim credit for the Big Bang as well...

13. FNugget (unregistered) posted on 10 Aug 2011, 06:45 0 0

Obviously you don't know how patents work, as the patent for "multiple accounts" was filed in 2007.

21. taco50 posted on 10 Aug 2011, 08:53 1 5

Facts don't matter to him fnugget. Only bad things for Apple are acceptable.

24. Sniggly posted on 10 Aug 2011, 09:36 4 1

Oh, and FNugget, only bad things for Google are acceptable for Taco. Just thought I'd let you know in this completely passive aggressive fashion.

Taco, you know that this is something Apple shouldn't be granted a patent for.

34. Devon (unregistered) posted on 10 Aug 2011, 20:05 0 0

Taco is the epitome of an Iphone fanboy, no use Sniggly. He's always in these posts protecting the Apple ideology.

This comment is posted in response to #24 Show

This comment is posted in response to #24 Hide

3. android_hitman posted on 10 Aug 2011, 01:10 17 3

apple is starting to make me puke... i hate you apple

4. PeterIfromsweden posted on 10 Aug 2011, 01:12 14 2

This is ridicoulus !
Someone must do something to stop apple with this madness.

5. Joshing4fun posted on 10 Aug 2011, 01:13 9 0

I hate when people or in this case, companies misuse the legal system just to get money out of them. This only hurts the economy more. Not that Apple cares since they have so much money.

6. ztedac posted on 10 Aug 2011, 01:32 8 0

soon enough, no companies want to sell phones to the states just because of apple
and all americans can only have apple phones.....
this is GREAT competition for the slumping economy....

good job apple,
this is your only way to make money
not from originality but by suing....
just good job.... wish you luck in the future of taking over the would

7. remixfa posted on 10 Aug 2011, 01:40 6 2

while i dont have anything to say about Apple's use or misuse of our legal system.... if what they did was legal and they won, then so be it. If what they did and won wasnt.. well then, its just another legal battle waiting to happen.

Personally, I think Apple has gone FAR beyond what would be concidered "IP Protection" and well into the realms of "we want a monopoly, so screw u"....

Regardless, I side with the law.. if its in their favor or not.

14. FNugget (unregistered) posted on 10 Aug 2011, 06:53 2 0

The people who examine patents kind of have it tough. Theres an effort to process applications faster, but the only way to defend against applications like these is to have more time to find/gather more evidence.

Sometimes, the time constraints win. HOWEVER, because these patents are granted does not mean it's over. Then that whole business about patent infringement starts up.

22. taco50 posted on 10 Aug 2011, 08:55 0 0

Apple has about 28% of the smartphone market in the US and less than 10% of the cell phone market when you count all phones. That hardly qualifies as a monopoly.

23. redleg6 posted on 10 Aug 2011, 09:14 1 0

Get a few isheep in the patent office and BAM! Apple has a patent.

8. APPLEhater (unregistered) posted on 10 Aug 2011, 02:26 4 0

I'm all for innovation and competition it's what make everything work but I hated when a company tries to monopolize and give us the little consumers LESS choices. Makes me want to go and have one of those protest to boycott their products.

9. Whateverman posted on 10 Aug 2011, 03:08 5 0

That's it! First thing in the morning, I'm going to get a patent for H2O, breathing, sleeping, and the word "The". Sounds pretty stupid right? Well, we'll just see what the USPTO has to say about that!