Apple Sues HTC...

[thrillrideseeker]

So I came across this on Yahoo news, and found it to be very interesting. Basically HTC made a phone to much like the iPhone so now Apple is suing them! The article says...

From The Business Insider, March 2, 2010:

 

Apple today filed a lawsuit against mobile devices maker HTC. The suit claims infringement of 20 patents related to the iPhone's user interface, underlying architecture, and hardware.

 

In the release, Steve Jobs says, "We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it...We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."

 

Taiwan-based HTC was the first company to manufacture a cell phone based on Google's Android operating system, which has emerged as a significant competitor to the iPhone, AP reports. It's also making the Nexus One phone that Google is selling directly to consumers.

 

It looks like the Nexus One, and other HTC phones, may have hit too close to home for Steve Jobs.

 

Earlier, we supposed that Apple's multi-touch user interface could be the basis for the lawsuit. But after examining the complaint, it appears that Apple is NOT suing over multitouch, but rather a bunch of other software. (When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone, he touted its multitouch screen, then said, "And boy, have we patented it.")

 

Meanwhile, Apple is already tied up in a patent lawsuit with Nokia, claiming Nokia is stealing Apple technology. Nokia says Apple is stealing its technology. Kodak is also suing Apple claiming technology theft.

 

Basically, Apple's patent lawyers are going to be busy for the next year or so.

My opinion is ... Go Apple! Personally I think Apple created something super amazing with the iPhone, and I think its wrong that other companies are trying their best to make their version of the iPhone. Let Apple have its iPhone glory. What is your opinion on this whole situation?

~Matthew

[Chris Benvenuto]

Hmmm....Yeah Jobs, be even MORE anti-3rd party!!!

 

I mean seriously, didn't someone win and sue Apple for the iPhone name in the first place? It's ironic how this goes in aback and forth-like manner. They get sued by a 3rd party group for a name, then they sue back for a company using a similar idea and design.

[ginzo]

Yeah, Apple has a completely clean record in this department. They've never "stolen" any ideas. The GUI for example, Jobs came up with that on his own. Xerox PARC did not influence him in the least.

 

Companies walk a fine line between stealing and competing/improving on things. Let the lawyers figure out where the difference lies.

[Wes]

What does Steve Jobs think about stealing ideas?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0UjU0rtavE

 

I agree this lawsuit is BS! I m a fan of Apple products, but most of the patents Apple is suing HTC over are so vague. Apple obviously feels threatened by Android.

 

This is the latest example of patents getting really out of hand. The whole idea behind issuing patents is to inspire and motivate innovation, but more and more it seems like it's a way for companies to try to extort money and exert power. It's complete abuse of the system. It's one thing to protect your patents legitimately, but it's a whole other (much more nefarious) thing to use your patents to try to stamp out competition.

[Ed]

Another lawsuit between phone companies... That's shocking!

[larrygator]

My opinion is ... Go Apple! Personally I think Apple created something super amazing with the iPhone, and I think its wrong that other companies are trying their best to make their version of the iPhone. Let Apple have its iPhone glory. What is your opinion on this whole situation?

~Matthew

 

You are confused and brain washed by Apple. Just because Apple created something that is super amazing that doesn't mean another company can't build upon it without stealing patents. Claims of patent stealing turn out to be false the majority of the time in business.

 

Let "Apple have its iPhone glory" is just a foolish statement. Apple could carry less about glory, this is about money and they already had two years of glory.

 

In technology you innovate, buy ideas, steal ideas or die. Steve Jobs knows this better than anyone (except maybe Bill Gates). If Apple pushes the issue too hard there will a backlash.

 

^Tyler - You are correct, Apple is terrified of Android.

[Jew]

I share the same opinion as Wes...the patent system is getting completely out of hand. Patent's get granted for things that are so vague, and there are companies out there making millions of dollars of years doing nothing more than "squatting" on vague patents suing all the major companies that "stole" their patent they don't even have enough money to develop on their own. The same BS that Apple is suing HTC for happens to all the giant electronic companies a few times a year...I'm fairly certain Apple has even been the target of these before over the iPhone as well.

[larrygator]

^Yes, Apple did recently attempt to sue either Samsung (Instinct phone) or Palm (Pre) recently over the touch screen web interface

[Lady Gaga]

Even though they have patents, Apple can't expect their iPhone to rule the smart/touchscreen phone market forever.

Don't get me wrong I have an iPhone and I LOVE it, but I wouldn't mind seeing other phone manufacturers make a phone that's up to par or even better.

[Wes]

And currently Apple is being sued by Nokia and Kodak for similar vague patents.

 

It IS hilarious to see all the hardcore Apple fanboys, who were in a huge huff over the Nokia lawsuit, try to defend Apple now that they are pulling the same petty bullshit.

[SharkTums]

Haven't we learned that competition is good and fosters innovation?

[ginzo]

^^I admire Apple's skill at creating devoted fanboys. For example, how they convinced many people to pay a premium for a nicer-looking box that you shove under your desk and never look at.

[Meteornotes]

Sadly, like Wes and Joey said, there's big money to be made in suing other companies (especially competitors) over patent violations. Instead of perhaps putting the time and energy into making their products better, companies (and especially their lawyers) spend far too much time filing lawsuits against each other. And yes, Apple has been the target of these types of suits more than once.

 

There have been attempts to re-write the patent laws to prevent these kinds of abuses, and to make it impossible for firms to go around buying very obscure patents and then use them to sue giant companies like Amazon and Apple. But since most of congress is made up of lawyers, these attempts have been, um, less than successful...

 

dt

[mcjaco]

Haven't we learned that competition is good and fosters innovation?

 

That would require work. We don't do that here, in the USA. Steal or sue.

[RCFreak]

This is non news really, Apple sues companies all the time, and companies sue Apple all the time. It's not so much Apple is trying to "snub the competition" (although definitely a part of it) but in order for a person or company to keep their patents, they have to actively defend it, as vague as it is hence a lot of the lawsuits. And a lot of times what happens isn't necessarily monetary gain, but agreements for sharing technology ("we'll let you use this one, if you let us use this one") unless it happens to be a smaller company or one without many patents (such as HTC might be) then they go for the jugular. I think you'll be hearing about an HTC lawsuit in the coming weeks as well, and it'll be very interesting to see how involved Google becomes with all of this.

[BeemerBoy]

Personally I think Apple created something super amazing with the iPhone, and I think its wrong that other companies are trying their best to make their version of the iPhone.

 

Henry Ford did that once as well. It sure would have sucked to see other companies create similar creations based off his invention, and provide variety to the masses. Oh, wait.

[larrygator]

This is non news really, Apple sues companies all the time, and companies sue Apple all the time. It's not so much Apple is trying to "snub the competition" (although definitely a part of it) but in order for a person or company to keep their patents, they have to actively defend it, as vague as it is hence a lot of the lawsuits.

 

So true, the only reason this is even news is because Emperor Jobs commented on it.

[BkkMan13]

Really Apple, really? Its obvious that Apple is just afraid that Google Android is better than their web interface.

[Cameron]

Yeah, Apple has a completely clean record in this department. They've never "stolen" any ideas. The GUI for example, Jobs came up with that on his own. Xerox PARC did not influence him in the least.

 

Ok - the patent issue is complete garbage, but so is statements like this. What Xerox was doing at PARC was research, and a large amount of Apple stock was traded for in exchange for access (and use) of the research. Not to mention the huge amount of innovation Apple did over the Star interface..

 

But back to the patent thing - it's stupid. Software patents have been stupid since they were invented, and all they do is stifle innovation and hurt the consumers. This move by Apple is petty and childish, and puts even more attention on Android (which is really a pretty unexciting product anyway).

 

Apple is the new Sony - a once great company producing amazing technology, that gets too big and too arrogant and ends up churning out crap. Sad, really.

 

Cameron.

[kennywood_racer]

When will Verizon get the iPhone

[RCFreak]

^Not until after 2012 apparently.

 

I think you'll be hearing about an HTC lawsuit in the coming weeks as well

 

http://gizmodo.com/5537316/htc-countersues-apple-to-stop-all-iphone-ipod-ipad-sales