someone is challenging the german courts power to rule over europe, thus the ban is lifted everywhere except europe where the court has power. it's unrelated to the squashed photo issue. someone obviously doesn't know how to use MS publisher very well

Courts in individual Member EU states cannot unilaterally rule on IP legislation in other member states and this was rightly challenged.

Hasn't this already been done by Microsoft with kinnect ?

I read another report where Apple have patented the positioning of a laptop antenna under the least used keys of the keyboard!

Its mainly Apple that gets reported so am sure there is much prolificness elsewhere.

I suppose, but Apple's patent has sensors positioned in the screen surround. In any case, wont bother Apple, they will go after anyone, except maybe Microsoft I suppose.

While I see your point, you can't 'copyright' (copyright and patents are different) something like. I suspect they've probably filled a patent for a method of doing it.

Hi Dot.

I chose my choice of phrase deliberately whether borne of cynicism or flippancy or both, but I was referring to the scenario whereby Apple seem to patent anything vaguely resembling a certain process and go full steam after anyone who produces something resembling said patent. This is what I meant by copywriting the idea. In Apple's mind, they and only they are allowed to be innovative. Have you seem sone of their patents?

OK fair enough, I have seen their patents. I was astounded to see they have a patent for storing a software program in memory, and they've asserted it against Android! When just about every modern computer is in violation of it.

Absolutely stupid.

Yep, I agree. It is surprising that their attorneys ever get a day off.

It's one thing trying to patent something like that, the other if they are actually granted it. I would not be surprised if bribing was involved. And even if others challenge such a patent, it takes time and makes a great bullying of the competition. They should patent a term 'a greedy corporate fvck' so that nobody can tell them what they are.

I think its clear that apple are getting patents for anything and everything. Then using these patents to stop the competition for eating into their market share. Where most companies would improve their product and beat the competition with better products and/or price point apple seem to be taking a different strategy.

I agree that some of the patents that apple have should not have been granted. Someone needs to look at every apple patent granted in the last few years and review if they are to be pulled or not.

I would hazard a guess, a lot of patents filed, were designed by other companies who just didnt bother to file a patent, probably because it was too generic. If you go by the patents you would think that apple invented the tablet...when we all know its been around way before the ipad.

A despicable company, one of the many reasons why I would never buy an apple product.

So I guess HTC must be evil too, as they're seeking an import injunction against Apple in the US at the moment.

And LG must also be evil too, for suing Sony over alleged Blu-Ray patent infringement in the PS3, again involving the seeking of import injunctions.

And it goes on and on...

Get real people, it's just the way the technology game is played these days. Whether the system is right or wrong for allowing things to work this way is another matter altogether, but Apple are no more evil than anyone else is.

Do you have any references to this? It would be interesting to read more. I know Nokia already have several gesture control patents involving cameras (well 'optical sensors') and discrete radar sensors.

You are right. It appears to be the US patent system which is the key in the arguments, however Its counter sue in Android's case as the companies involved are not up to being bullied.

Most of the patents are in software or applications in software and most feel they are not worth the paper it is printed on. Apple are acting like the playground bully and are going far away from what a healthy competitive industry should aspire too. Apple may not be evil per se, just arseholes.

I got that from here. Not the best source I suppose and full of the shows usual love affair with Apple.

Interesting... That seems to be a slightly different approach to Nokia's so it will be very interesting to see how that pans out.

It would depend on what grounds HTC are seeking an injunction for. However, since its against apple..it may well be tit for tat. Understandable really, as when apple files stupid suits, you cant expect other companies to sit back and say 'oh well'.

As for LG dont know anything about it to comment.

Get real??? Err you need to get real, this is not how the technology game is played. Its only how apple have chosen to play it. Mainly because they dont the products to rival others on the market. I take it from your post you are a apple fanboy. I say fanboy, as your post is obviously based to the point of being nonsense.

Maybe Nintendo should have a look at this, as I am sure they have been using 3D gestures on the Wii. Apple have moved it from a controller and put it on a flat surface. Not sure how far the development has gone with this, or whether they are just getting in their first with a patent, and worrying about its implementation at a latter date (which is more than likely).

Lol, no I'm not an Apple 'fanboy' but judging by the belittling tone of your post you seem to be an Android fanatic, and fanaticism doesn't do anyone any good.

Take a look here: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1S88DNuFgj...2B11.03.22.png

As of March 2011 there were a staggering 37 active lawsuits against Android, and Apple were the litigator in only 3 of them I believe.

The problem is not Apple. The problem is that Google made a decision to disregard everyone else's patents and IP rights and deal with the consequences afterwards, which has meant a lot of their hardware partners getting caught up in the fallout.

Lawsuits relating to mobile phone technology and IP have been around for a lot longer than the iPhone too.

Just off the top of my head I can tell you there were 11 lawsuits alone between Nokia and Qualcomm between 2005 and 2007 relating to phone technology and I'm quite sure I wouldn't have to go very far to find a lot more.

The acquisition of >15000 patents with Motorola mobile, should go a long way to solve that problem. Can you say Cross Licensing.

Isn't that rather prejudging the outcome of the cases? In the Oracle case, for example, Google claim that either their technology doesn't use the patented method, or that the patent is invalid. Part of why they developed Dalvik instead of using a JVM was to avoid infringing Oracle's (née Sun's) IP.

No, I don't think so. I think in some cases the outcomes are actually irrelevant (but certainly not the Oracle case). What the Oracle case has thrown into the public gaze is Google's attitude towards potential IP issues within Android. They made a clear decision to push ahead with Android's release prior to resolving questions over potential patent infringement that they knew about.

I honestly believe that if Oracle win and are successful in arguing the infringement was wilful then the entire future of Android will be threatened. I'm not sure how much profit Google have made from Android, but I can't see a ~$7 billion payout looking too favourable for its future, which is what they'll be paying out if Oracle do prevail and are awarded full damages based on wilful infringement.

I wonder if Google now regret not coming to an agreement with Sun when they had the chance.

The problem for Apple has to be the fact that their kit is the most lego like.

So when the likes of Samsung build/invent mega expensive OLED screens which they either refuse to sell or Apple refuse to pay for then the quickest to compete is via litigation.
I guess litigation can also have the double whammy effect of blackening the opposition's name with the desired result even while litigation is ongoing.

Is it not just a variation of the Adobe Flash spat? I always found the resulting anti-flash iPhone owners mindset puzzling, in that Flash had already become more use than hindrance.

Don't forget the long-running battle in the courts that Apple started with Microsoft over the GUI.

That seemed to run and run.

My son is starting a new career in IT, it might be more profitable to be involved in IT litigation.

I suspect that was a non-starter. Sun's demands for mobile Java (as opposed to Java on the desktop) were not reasonable, and would have killed Android. Google's approach of developing their own technology instead of licensing Sun's was (probably) reasonable.