The United States Patent and Trademark Office has just granted Apple a new patent today for its "Slide to Unlock" iOS gesture. The patent application was filed more than a year before the very first iPhone and refers to the unlocking gesture in broad terms as when "contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device."
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‘patent’ Stories
Apple wins patent for Slide to Unlock iOS gesture
Microsoft collars Compal for patent fees, criticizes Google
Compal is the latest Android user to sign a patent licensing deal with Microsoft, following Samsung and Quanta in agreeing to pay the software giant for its Android and Chrome devices. The news, Microsoft says, means that more than half of the world's ODMs (Original Design Manufacturing) producing Android and Chrome hardware are paying them for the privilege of doing so. Meanwhile, Microsoft also takes the opportunity to criticize rivals that aren't as forthcoming in protecting manufacturers who use their software.
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Samsung exec denies Galaxy Nexus Apple patent workarounds
Samsung's head of mobile global product strategy has denied reports that the Galaxy Nexus was designed specifically to work around Apple patents, despite Samsung mobile president Shin Jong-kyun suggesting that was the case earlier this week. Asked by AllThingsD about whether Samsung had created the new Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone with Apple IP in mind, Won-Pyo Hong claimed "that wasn't really part of our discussions when designing the device" and went on to dismiss the claims as mere speculation.
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Samsung: Galaxy Nexus designed to avoid Apple patents
Samsung has admitted that the new Galaxy Nexus was designed specifically with bypassing Apple patents in mind, mobile president Shin Jong-kyun saying that the company “will avoid everything we can.” Talking to Yohhap News, Shin said Samsung “take patents very seriously” but due to the complexity of intellectual property there was no guarantee that the Galaxy Nexus would be immune from ligitation.
Apple demand for broad Samsung tablet ban rejected
An Australian judge has rejected Apple‘s attempt to have Samsung forced to give the Cupertino company advance notice of new product launches, as well as have limitations placed on tablets other than the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Speaking of yesterday’s preliminary sales injunction ruling, Justice Annabelle Bennett told Apple that “it doesn’t apply to any other player in the marketplace,” WSJ reports, dismissing requests to extend the decision to future models Samsung might release.
Apple Aussie win could mean death to all Android slates warns expert
Apple's sales injunction success over the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia earlier today could have wide-reaching impact on other Android tablets in the country, it's been suggested, with one of Steve Jobs' own patents helping strike the killing blow. The IP in question is particularly broad, FOSS Patents points out, and potentially "broad enough in scope that Google and its OEM partners can't work around them without rendering their products less appealing, or even entirely unappealing, to consumers."
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Apple wins Samsung tablet sales ban in Australia
Apple has won a preliminary sales injunction against Samsung in Australia, blocking the Galaxy Tab 10.1 from hitting store shelves and leaving the Korean company to face either a 2012 trial or scrapping the slate altogether. The federal court judge decided in favor of Apple’s claims that Samsung infringed on two patents the company holds, SMH reports, concluding “there were several factors that favoured Apple.”
Samsung “upgrading” three Galaxy smartphones to get into Dutch market without looming ban
Samsung has been fighting Apple over a patent dispute around the world. In August, Apple filed a complained in Europe that three of the devices in Samsung's Galaxy line of smartphones infringed on a number of patents Apple holds. Dutch courts ruled that Samsung didn’t infringe on any of the patents but one that has to do with viewing and navigating photos on a smartphone and issued an injunction on the devices.
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iPhone 4S may run afoul of Samsung antenna patents
The iPhone 4S smartphone is an interesting device and it will surely be a thorn in the side of competitors. Samsung and Apple have been fighting patent battles in court around the world and the iPhone 4S may spark a new patent suit fight. According to the expert that predicted the iPhone 4 antenna issue, the 4S may infringe on Samsung patents. The expert is Gert Frølund Pedersen.
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Motorola sued over Android by Google-backed patent collector
Motorola Mobility has become the latest target of patent litigation, with Intellectual Ventures claiming the company infringes on six patents with its Android smartphone range. Intellectual Ventures - which counts Google as a partial investor - alleges that licensing negotiations with Motorola broke down and thus forced the lawsuit, and that the company "will not tolerate ongoing infringement of our patents to the detriment of our current customers and our business."
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Samsung files for iPad design rights rejection
Samsung has filed to have Apple’s iPad design rights in Europe invalidated, the company has confirmed, claiming that “the design existed long before the iPad.” The application was filed to the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) back on August 9, The Korea Times reports, and if successful could have a significant impact on Apple’s cases in Europe against the Galaxy Tab 10.1. The news follows Samsung’s demands for a preliminary injunction against the new iPhone 4S in France and Italy.
Samsung seeks iPhone 4S sales ban in France and Italy
Samsung will attempt to block iPhone 4S sales in France and Italy, the company has announced, citing two 3G WCDMA patents it claims Apple has infringed. Filing separate preliminary injunction motions in Paris and Milano today, Samsung claims that Apple “has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property rights and free ride on our technology” and that the company believes “it is now necessary to take legal action to protect our innovation.”
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