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Scott_Arm
23-Jan-2009, 18:47
I think the Palm Pre looks really cool. THe information aggregation for contacts from multiple sources is awesome.

Looks like Apple has made some threats to sue anyone that infringes on their IP, which is a not so veiled threat at Palm.

Do you think the look alike interface is enough to sue? Is there some other reason that Apple may have grounds?

To me, suing a company over an interface seems kind of stupid. I mean, Windows, Gnome, KDE, OSX are all relatively the same in terms of how they look and operate and that's a good thing for the consumer. I understand that Apple's bread and butter is software interfaces, but limiting competitors from implementing a simple interface is bad for the consumer.

Anything obvious I'm missing?

Edit:

I wish I could change the thread title to say Apple may sue Palm. The way I wrote it, it is definitive, which it is not.

Sxotty
23-Jan-2009, 19:04
From what I understand Apple will have little grounds in any case if they sue.

Otherwise microsoft could sue Apple over the surface concept.

tirminyl
23-Jan-2009, 20:24
From what I understand Apple will have little grounds in any case if they sue.

Otherwise microsoft could sue Apple over the surface concept.

But didn't Apple purchase the company that provided them their Multi-touch tech? So who owns the patent?

Simon F
25-Jan-2009, 11:10
I wish I could change the thread title to say Apple may sue Palm. The way I wrote it, it is definitive, which it is not.
Done.

MfA
25-Jan-2009, 12:26
But didn't Apple purchase the company that provided them their Multi-touch tech? So who owns the patent?
That's optimistic, there are dozens of patents and in the US market their filing date isn't even relevant. The Truth of the matter will be found in a Texas court no doubt.

Nano
25-Jan-2009, 14:19
The compensation generation.

I don't think they have many grounds, just feel threatened by a potentially very stong competitor.

Scott_Arm
28-Jan-2009, 16:02
So Apple just won some big patent for multi-touch interfaces. Do you think it will be enforceable? I really like Apple's products, but I don't think something so generic should be awarded a patent.


Here's a nice little article on the different patents they can use against eachother ...
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/apple-vs-palm-the-in-depth-analysis/

BRiT
28-Jan-2009, 16:41
I wonder how this will play out against MS's Surface / Surface 2.0 technology.

MfA
28-Jan-2009, 20:40
Here's a nice little article on the different patents they can use against eachother ...
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/apple-vs-palm-the-in-depth-analysis/
He has a strange view on patents ...

"Let's say Palm were to win: not only might Apple lose its patents, the court would at the very least award Palm royalties for the patents the iPhone infringes"

No, if Palm were to win Apple would have to settle or immediately stop selling until they could create an iPhone which did not infringe ... patents are absolute monopolies, there are no halfsies. The court could do little less than grant damages to Palm and put an injunction on Apple.

Nano
29-Jan-2009, 00:12
Considering that article, it would make for one messy legal battle.