Patrick.net

Apples Pinch to Zoom Patent Rejected

By 121212   Follow   Fri, 21 Dec 2012, 11:23am   313 views   11 comments
Watch (0)   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike (1)  

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323277504578189891418492784.html

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2012/12/20/apple-s-pinch-to-zoom-patent-rejected.html

In Apple’s defense, it is a pretty sweet feature. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected Apple’s claim to the “Pinch to Zoom” patent. The function—which iPhone users will recognize as the ability to intuitively zoom by using your finger and thumb on a touchscreen—was a cornerstone of Apple’s case against Samsung. The basis of the initial ruling was that other patents essentially covered the same invention. Translation: You didn’t invent the wheel.

Viewing Comments 1-11 of 11     Last »     See most liked comments

1. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

   1   11:26am Fri 21 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (3)   Dislike   Protected   There are way too many silly patents. Especially "software" patents. We need patent reform. Innovations cannot happen when every step you make is potentially a legal landmine.

2. 121212 Follow Befriend 83 threads 687 comments male

   2   11:33am Fri 21 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (3)   Dislike (1)   What I am still confused about is that Apple did not invent the touch capacitative screen! or any screen for that matter. The screen inventors obviously enabled the tech to do pinch and zoom otherwise Apple S/W would not work on it! It's a "driver" ! How can you patent a driver?

3. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

   3   11:35am Fri 21 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Protected   Well, the jump from touch to multi-touch-to gesture is significant. What should it be a patent?

4. 121212 Follow Befriend 83 threads 687 comments male

   4   11:37am Fri 21 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike (1)   But again Apple did not invent that. It enabled it through s/w!

5. 121212 Follow Befriend 83 threads 687 comments male

   5   11:39am Fri 21 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (3)   Dislike (1)   The whole thing is stupid, attempting to patent natural gestures etc, it's counter productive to stop other companies standardizing on the same controls. A Mouse and Keyboard does not define a PC? Just as a touch screen does not define the tablet. It does not hurt Apple, it makes Apple the standard! Now Apple look stupid, again.

6. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

   6   11:40am Fri 21 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike   Protected   I agree. Software patents are patently wrong.

7. 121212 Follow Befriend 83 threads 687 comments male

   7   11:42am Fri 21 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike (1)   They could have played nice, but they believe as they usually do that they OWN the marketplace.

8. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

   8   11:45am Fri 21 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Protected   The mobile market is just too important. And the winner may as well take all. It is a high-stake game.

9. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

   9   11:51am Fri 21 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (2)   Dislike   Protected   Anyway, I think the patent office is doing the right thing. And I am glad.

10. 121212 Follow Befriend 83 threads 687 comments male

    10   11:58am Fri 21 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (4)   Dislike (1)   Peter P says The mobile market is just too important. And the winner may as well take all. It is a high-stake game. It's always evolving, it will never be winner takes all. Nokia thought they had it all, look how it turned it for them.

11. Peter P Follow Befriend (4) 117 threads 17,655 comments Premium

    11   12:05pm Fri 21 Dec 2012   Share   Quote   Permalink   Like (1)   Dislike   Protected   It will be winner takes "most" for a while.