Apple Caught "Borrowing" App Interface in Patent Filing
Apple Caught "Borrowing" App Interface in Patent Filing
Posted 08/06/2010 at 3:06pm
| by Ryan Whitwam
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There was already a bit of a protest after Apple recently filed a series of patent applications for mobile app concepts. Those that felt Apple's intention to patent software functionality was unacceptable now have a lot more ammunition. One of the illustrations in the application appears to be a direct copy of an existing iPhone app called Where To.
There's really no mistaking the similarity, this is no accident. This particular patent is "for integrating travel services in a single application available to a portable electronic device." The owner of FutureTap, the maker of Where To is not amused saying, " We’re faced with a situation where we’ve to fear that our primary business partner is trying to “steal” our idea and design." Apple says they are not trying to steal the app's functionality, they're just using it as an example.
We're no lawyers, but one of the important elements of a patentable invention is that it is a new idea, or a meaningful modification of an existing one. By straight-up copying this app, doesn't that basically admit that there is "prior art"? What's your take here?
Image via VentureBeat
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rafette
August 09, 2010 at 4:18am
The real problem is that this company exists and survives in the iphone app environment, which apple controls. If they can't steal the ideaa, they can send them to oblivion by not authorizing the app. That gives apple a huge and unfair advantage
Vectrexer
August 07, 2010 at 8:51pm
When you use someone else's are or concept in a patent application, even as an example, it's more about theft than anything else. Unless you are maming a stated improvement.
mesiah
August 06, 2010 at 8:45pm
Is it really such a surprise that a company that pases off old technology as their own innovation would try and patent someone elses ideas?
Of all the bad companies out there, apple time and again shows that they are the worst, and the general public still loves them. Makes you wonder just how stupid humans can be.
David522
August 06, 2010 at 7:38pm
Ok so when apple does it, its "borrowing" and when anyone else does the same thing its "stealing"?
Anyone?!
deismanj
August 09, 2010 at 8:24am
I hope Apple gets creamed, they sue anyone for anything they perceive as using their patents, it's about time they get a dose of their own medicine.
TechW
August 09, 2010 at 8:08am
I have to agree with you. I think the police need to come in with a warrant and take all Apples servers to look for evidence.
Vano
August 06, 2010 at 4:26pm
IMO it's fake. Just look at the screenshot on the right, it's so identical to the "original", even the time matches!
TheZomb
August 06, 2010 at 7:05pm
Although if it was a fake I'm sure Apple would have denied using it, but since they admitted to using it as an example it makes you wonder if they took that exact picture and copied it.
Its especially odd since they did change a few things, most of the icons are slightly different straight instead of curved edges, filled, unfilled, missing lines, some are completely different. Makes you wonder why they used the exact same time if they copied it.
timmyw
August 06, 2010 at 4:19pm
Let me know where to send money to pay for this guys lawyers so he can sue the hell of Steve Jobs.
I also bet there will be a few more Apple employees joining the antenna engineers in the unemployment line.
TheZomb
August 06, 2010 at 7:08pm
The worst that can happen is the patent will not be awarded. You can only sue after someone has made money off of your intellectual property and since Apple hasn't made or sold anything they can't be sued.
aviaggio
August 06, 2010 at 4:03pm
Seriously, is Jobs so damned full of himself now that he is blatantly copying other people's work and trying to patent it? Unfuckingbelievable.
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