Patently ridiculous: Google gets patent for multitouch trackpad

5. MichaelHeller posted on 22 Feb 2012, 15:30 31 2

And, as always, there is someone who completely misses the point.

1) The problem is not that companies are applying for these patents, but that the USPTO grants them.
2) Apple catches flack for getting these patents, then using them to sue others. As yet, Google has not used any patents to sue anyone, only to defend itself and its hardware partners from lawsuits.

8. protozeloz posted on 22 Feb 2012, 15:39 2 0

and having their ideas stolen, patented and used against them.....

9. gallitoking posted on 22 Feb 2012, 15:55 0 23

Michael .. when someone steals is a thief.. regardless if it is for pleasure or for necessity... Google is as guilty as charged...

11. MichaelHeller posted on 22 Feb 2012, 15:58 13 0

What theft has been made and who was stolen from? Apple didn't invent multitouch, and Apple never patented the use of a multitouch trackpad with a touchscreen device. So, by the ridiculous logic of the USPTO, this is a completely new idea.

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13. thephoneguy92 posted on 22 Feb 2012, 16:05 10 2

Michael, don't listen to gallito. He has proven time and again that his logic is flawed beyond belief. He believes that Apple is king of everything, and that anyone who says otherwise is wrong. I enjoyed the article, nice to know that some people can still be unbiased.

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19. MichaelHeller posted on 22 Feb 2012, 16:37 13 0

Trust me, I know the trolls.

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43. JC557 posted on 22 Feb 2012, 22:03 4 1

shame you can't really remove them.

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53. remixfa posted on 23 Feb 2012, 08:54 1 0

is the dual touch track pad on the iMacs patented? I've always assumed it was.
Could this prevent apple from making a touch screen desktop/laptop with a multitouch enabled pad for input on mouse pad?

If the answer is no to the 2nd question, it seems like a really big future bargaining chip between the 2 companies. The patent seems silly to me, but it could be part of their mounted defense of their android system by trying to find the "patent holes" in apple's armor.
thoughts on that?

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15. protozeloz posted on 22 Feb 2012, 16:06 1 1

I spot a troll.... U mad?

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50. bayusuputra posted on 23 Feb 2012, 00:04 0 0

gallito, who said great artists steal?

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12. andro. posted on 22 Feb 2012, 16:02 5 0

Well said Michael

44. JC557 posted on 22 Feb 2012, 22:14 0 0

NeoNode may have a patent on slide to unlock but not sure

They has Twitter!
http://twitter.com/#!/uspto

Flame 'em on!

49. sprockkets posted on 22 Feb 2012, 23:50 3 0

The patent was filed in q3 of 2011 and *published* this month, NOT granted.

Btw, this patent describes basically new methods to map what you do on a touchpad to what it would do on the touchscreen, NOT what the article said about patenting the touchpad in general.

New? Seems to be. Novel? Yes? Done in software? Yes. Should be granted? No.

Better they have it instead of apple.

45. JC557 posted on 22 Feb 2012, 22:14 0 0

spam 'em

http://twitter.com/#!/uspto

54. remixfa posted on 23 Feb 2012, 08:57 1 0

I say we go in there, and get rid of any patent that seems like its too... common or unspecific and burn em. Certain things should just have to be shared like those 3g radio patents so people cant get a lock on the system. Same with "slide to unlock" and a dozen other stupid patents.

62. LoneShaolin posted on 23 Feb 2012, 17:51 1 0

I'm in.

14. protozeloz posted on 22 Feb 2012, 16:05 6 1

you actually read?

17. gallitoking posted on 22 Feb 2012, 16:26 4 1

I dont I get all this in audio tapes

16. MorePhonesThanNeeded posted on 22 Feb 2012, 16:14 7 0

Yawn, shut up! Google is just doing as Apple does, exploiting the incredibly flawed and apparently fundamentally retarded individuals at the USPTO. Only difference Google doesn't go around trying to sue everyone and everything in existence because of said patent, they just like to have ammunition to defend themselves if need be. Google likes to play barter and we both can make money. Unless of course you are some tiny upstart, then they'll crush you like a tank on a sand castle.

20. MichaelHeller posted on 22 Feb 2012, 16:41 16 0

Yep, the side that's against software patents and the never-ending lawsuits that follow.

21. gallitoking posted on 22 Feb 2012, 16:56 0 8

even though you went dark side. love your work... but now Google is no different than Apple... now... different reasons.. though

30. downphoenix posted on 22 Feb 2012, 18:31 7 1

maybe google made the patent just to defend itself from Apple and isnt intending on using it to bully competitors out of the market.

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33. MichaelHeller posted on 22 Feb 2012, 19:19 7 0

You can't just say that Google is no different than Apple without explaining yourself. As I said, Google has never used patents to sue other companies, it has only gotten patents for defense because of the screwed up patent system.

So, please, explain yourself.

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34. gallitoking posted on 22 Feb 2012, 19:27 1 4

if you applied for dumb patents for either sued or to defend yourself.. it doesnt changes the fact that there still dumb patents.. the USTPO is playing us and playing Apple and all others... and now Google is playing that dumb game that Apple and all other now is playing.. making Apple and Google in the same boat that the USPTO is driving... example.. driving drunk or buzz driving is the same... same here..applying for dumb patents is wrong.. regardless of the intent..

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35. cellphonator posted on 22 Feb 2012, 19:34 5 1

Come on Gallito, be nice, USPTO are retarded but there is a substantial difference between defending yourself and attack to be the only one using a feature. This is too easy to understand.

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55. remixfa posted on 23 Feb 2012, 08:59 1 0

gallito, dumb patents or not, the USTPO is part of the game. You can either refuse to play the game and have a-holes like apple gaming the crap out of the system and bullying everyone around.. or you can get in the game so you can defend yourself when those a-holes eventually turn their eyes towards you.
The game is severely flawed, but if you dont play it you are screwing yourself. Google has not turned into apple until they start drawing designs on napkins and trying to sue the life out of anything it considered competition.

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57. MichaelHeller posted on 23 Feb 2012, 09:41 2 0

The USPTO is broken, but companies are put at a disadvantage if they don't play in the system. If Google didn't apply for these patents, the entire Android ecosystem would be at risk from companies that do play the USPTO's insane game.

I just don't understand your turn of logic though. You admit that the problem lies with the USPTO granting the dumb patents. I just don't understand your logic behind saying that Apple, which plays the game to attack competitors, is the same as Google, which plays the game to defend itself from other dumb patents while openly lobbying against the broken system.

Your argument works perfectly for guns: whether you buy one to defend yourself or attack someone, there is inherent danger in that ownership. But, the same doesn't apply to patents, because there is no inherent danger in owning a patent with the sole intent of defense.

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58. gallitoking posted on 23 Feb 2012, 11:22 0 1

thank you Michael for you responds.. I like debating with you as you do answer properly unlike fandroids... what Apple does is wrong.. it slows innovation.. but.... they are just too smart because they figured it out a way to take advantage of the system.. but is not their fault.. is wrong what they do but if we are going to blame is the patent system... not Apple, Moto. HTC or Google... I only defend Apple from people that blames the patents war on Apple.. but for me until the patents systems gets fix.. they all either guilty or innocent...

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59. MichaelHeller posted on 23 Feb 2012, 15:31 1 0

I understand defending Apple, I've done the same in previous articles for the same reason that you site. Apple may be doing something that we don't like, but it is perfectly allowed, even encouraged by the broken system that the USPTO has put in place.

But still, you haven't explained properly why you would be lumping Google into the same category as Apple. Apple has learned to game the system, and is using that to gain an advantage against competitors. Google is simply arming itself to defend against such attacks. Sure, both companies are playing the game as the USPTO has set it up, but the two strategies are nowhere near analogous.

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60. MichaelHeller posted on 23 Feb 2012, 15:33 2 0

PS. this is why I engage all the commenters. Reasonable discussion is still possible with anyone as far as I'm concerned. People only get labeled as "fanboys" or "trolls" because no one bothers to have proper conversations anymore.

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61. gallitoking posted on 23 Feb 2012, 16:19 1 0

ok I see your point of view now.. is hard for me to view Google as the victim.. but your are right.. there are 2 different things.. but if Google starts to using its patents for evil... is open season again

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51. thinking posted on 23 Feb 2012, 04:27 0 0

Until they actually use it on anyone other than apple, they ARE still different from apple.

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24. RazaAsad posted on 22 Feb 2012, 17:22 2 0

Well said.

25. thephoneguy92 posted on 22 Feb 2012, 17:26 7 0

I'm sure you've seen many of my comments stating how ridiculous I think people are that claim their life to defend a certain OS. The fact that you just used the phrase "now is clear which side you are on" like he just committed a mortal sin and you are out to get him is a very scary sight. This is not braveheart here gallito, relax.

32. gallitoking posted on 22 Feb 2012, 19:11 0 4

Hey i love Michael's work... and always enjoy everyone of his articles... but we have to keep him on check... jk... Braveheart?.... dont like Mel Gibson... only in Lethal Weapon...

26. iBeliever (banned) posted on 22 Feb 2012, 17:33 1 11

And fandroids are in support of this. Shocker

28. Whateverman posted on 22 Feb 2012, 18:19 7 2

Someone with a name like "iBeliever" who thinks Google doing the same exact thing Apple has been doing for years is wrong...even bigger shocker!

31. protozeloz posted on 22 Feb 2012, 19:08 7 1

Here comes another idiot, do you read ENGLISH? Can you understand what he is talking about?

he technically says

1. the patent is dumb
2. the patent system is broken
3. this patent is a load of !@#$%^&* because we already have it from asus and on laptops so why is it getting granted just because of the touchscreen?

and you come with the androidcentral pos? if you don't like his 'BS' or the fandroids Go herehttp://appleinsider.com/ all your lame jokes will me more than welcome.

no wonder your IQ is low with that music taste of yours.....

37. iBeliever (banned) posted on 22 Feb 2012, 20:35 0 9

You fandroids are funny. Such a tight knit group lol.

38. squallz506 posted on 22 Feb 2012, 20:45 3 0

Ugh, can phone arena get a few moderators?

These trolls are getting out of control.

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40. protozeloz posted on 22 Feb 2012, 20:56 3 0

He is not a troll, He is just mentally challenged. He mistook this post for a 4chan post and it ringing on the random hate :) you should pity such things.

edit: and about that "androidcentral" thing the only nut head that used to say that is no one more that Taco50 XD are they related maybe? or is taco's new account? either way that's deserves even more pity

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56. remixfa posted on 23 Feb 2012, 09:01 3 0

im pretty sure its tacos new account.. because the one he made a few weeks ago got banned. hopefully he will continually get banned. you just have to report him as taco50 whenever he appears and.. poof... he's gone.

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39. protozeloz posted on 22 Feb 2012, 20:52 0 0

can your comments get any more lame? My lil cousin can come back with a better line than that... LAME and boring, NEXT

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42. jroc74 posted on 22 Feb 2012, 22:01 0 0

Great break down for the reading comprehension challenged...lol

47. blazee posted on 22 Feb 2012, 23:02 3 0

I actually clicked on the apple insider to check it out for the hell of it and one of their most recent articles was "New Beatles ringtones are exclusive to Apple's iTunes Store" lmao!

I thought buying a fragment of a song($1.29) for a full retail price of the song was a thing of the past lol i guess not for iphone users smh...

48. Whateverman posted on 22 Feb 2012, 23:39 2 0

Yeah, that is kinda weird thinking that in this day and age, people are still actually paying for ringtones. My old LG feature phones were able to send and receive free ringtones via SMS and Bluetooth.

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