Quote:
Originally Posted by Mojary
i agree with you p-slim about us as consumers are ultimately to losers in these things. but what i don't get is why was the patent approved? i would understand if they copyrighted the thing. but getting it patent basically means that nobody can create/write a similar product. doesn't having a patent mean that now only apple can be the only device that can have the multi-touch feature on phones?
|
The whole point of a patent is so that people can't steal your invention for use without your permission. -HOWEVER-, you can easily make similar inventions with variants and patent it as your own work, happens all the time, and it's completely legal. If I make a light bulb, and then someone else makes a light bulb that's slightly different, we can both patent our light bulbs as our inventions and be awarded them. That doesn't stop companies from crying foul when a similar technology is developed but is different from the original.
Part of the problem of our patent system, however, is that once a patent is awarded, it can be transferred and sold, and never lapse regardless if the original inventor passes on, and what happens too often is that companies that purchase patents from their previous holders is that they get greedy and start looking for other ways to make money. Apple has likely recieved or purchased patents for various products and now that HTC has become a far greater known name than previously, Apple's looking to collect and they'll do anything they can to try to 'prove' HTC has stolen their patents. But unless HTC is using Multitouch exactly as it's provided in the iPhone, or creating UI's that are exactly like the iPhone, or using technology that's expressely provided in the iPhone, Apple doesn't have a leg to stand on. Though they may hope to tie HTC up in court to make it expensive.
It's sad when companies rely on patents for income and seem to be interested only in stifling competition or innovation, which is what Apple is famous for.