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Palm Pre vs iPhone X: Qualcomm wants iPhones banned for misusing Palm OS interface patents

By Daniel Petrov

Published: Dec 04, 2017, 4:59 AM

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In a tit-for-tat move, Qualcomm responded to Apple's patent counterclaim last week by adding Palm into the mix. So far, it has accused Apple of infringing on connectivity, power efficiency, and 3D imagery patents on the iPhone 7 to iPhone X models, but it just piled on a few interface ones for a good measure.

What's Palm got to do with it, you ask? Its webOS now largely lives in smart TVs, as LG bought the rights to use it a while ago, albeit not the patents, and as a result its TV interface is one of the most user-friendly among big TV makers (we know, that doesn't say much, they are all terrible). Qualcomm, however, bought a few Palm OS interface-related patents back in 2014 as a bundle from HP, and is now saying that Apple is taking unfair advantage of similar actions on its iPhones without paying the proper licensing fees.

"All of these Palm inventions - owned by Qualcomm - have vastly improved the functionality of mobile devices and the user experience, and all of them are widely found in Apple products without license or permission," as per the chip maker's filing. It's not exactly clear which Palm patents is Qualcomm talking about, or which ones it has acquired, but if the Palm Pre gesture-based interface from back in 2010 was part of the package it got from HP, Apple may soon find itself in a pickle about the navigation ideas on the iPhone X, as you can clearly see in the video above.

source: ITPro

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.