Judge Interprets Key Realtime API Patent in Apple’s Favor

by Cody on Jan 29, 2012

Apple has spent an estimated $100 million dollars on its so-called “war on Android.” And so far it doesn’t have much to show for it. Even its recent ITC court victory over HTC doesn’t look like it will have much of an impact on anything.

But that could all change thanks to a recent interpretation of Apple’s ’263 patent by a high-ranking US judge. The patent covers realtime API — a key component in Android that would be extremely difficult to work around if a manufacturer was found guilty of infringing on it… Read More

 

Patent Shows Apple Working On Universal Touchscreen TV Remote

by Cody on Jan 26, 2012

As noted by 9to5Mac, the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) published an interesting patent application today with Apple’s name on it.

The filing pertains to a universal touch screen controller, capable of controlling TV sets and a range of other devices, lending at least some credibility to the recent rumors we’ve heard that Apple has a connected television in the works…

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Tension Grows Between Apple and Google as Motorola Files iPhone Lawsuit

by Cody on Jan 26, 2012

Reports are coming in that Motorola Mobility has just filed a significant lawsuit against Apple in the US over the illegal use of its intellectual property. Motorola believes that Apple is using its patents in both its iPhone 4S and iCloud products.

MM recently won an injunction against Apple late last year in a German court. And although the decision has yet to make an impact on Apple’s sales in the country, it could certainly play a major part in Motorola’s new lawsuit here in the States… Read More

 

Dutch Judge Denies Apple Appeal, Deems Galaxy Tab Legal

by Oliver Haslam on Jan 24, 2012

Apple today lost the latest round of its legal battle with Samsung, with a Dutch appeal court siding with the Korean tablet and smartphone maker.

Apple had claimed that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet had infringed upon some of company’s iPad patents, and sought a ban of the infringing hardware. At an appeal hearing today however, a Dutch judge at The Hague deemed the Galaxy Tab 10.1 to be a legal device, saying that it does not infringe on Apple’s patents… Read More

 

Apple Goes After Galaxy Nexus With Slide to Unlock Patent

by Cody on Jan 22, 2012

A few months ago, Samsung’s mobile president Shin Jong-kyun told reporters that Apple would have a hard time finding any of their intellectual property in his company’s new Galaxy Nexus handset.

He obviously underestimated Apple’s legal team. Reports are coming in that Apple has just filed another lawsuit in Germany against Samsung for the use of — get this — its patented ‘Slide to Unlock’ feature… Read More

 

Apple Patent Suggests New Thinner Batteries on the Way

by Oliver Haslam on Jan 20, 2012

A new Apple patent application to be released by the United States Patent and Trademark Office suggest that our future MacBooks, iPhones, iPods and iPads could get even thinner thanks to improved batteries.

When building a portable device one of the most important parts is the battery. Too small and your device will not have enough power to last a reasonable length of time. Too big and you risk making the device too large as well as making it unnecessarily heavy.

This new patent application shows that Apple is well aware of the need for improved battery technology, and it seems it might be on to something… Read More

 

Siri Patent Hints at More to Come from Apple’s Digital Assistant

by Oliver Haslam on Jan 19, 2012

If you’ve been reading the various editorials that we have been publishing of late then you’ll probably already know that not all of us here at iDB are big fans of Siri. While some see it as a real paradigm shift, others think it has fallen short of its potential.

A new patent application may give an insight into where Siri could go from its current beta state however, and things look set to improve.

One possibility to come out of the patent is one which could see Siri, or software like it, react to external events and take appropriate action upon them… Read More

 

Apple Files More Lawsuits Against Samsung in Germany

by Cody on Jan 17, 2012

It’s been nearly a year now since Apple filed its original patent infringement suit against Samsung, and the battle is still far from over. In fact, Apple has just filed a new set of lawsuits against the Korean manufacturer.

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple has just filed two new design-related lawsuits against Samsung in Germany’s Dusseldorf Regional Court. The suits call out several Samsung products including 10 smartphones, and 5 tablets… Read More

 

Samsung Wants Apple to Reveal Its Contract with Qualcomm

by Oliver Haslam on Jan 17, 2012

Samsung has requested details of the contract between iPad and iPhone maker Apple and the company which provides the chipsets for those machines, Qualcomm.

With Samsung currently locked in a legal battle with Apple over the Cupertino firm’s possible patent infringement, the nature of the deal between them and Qualcomm could leave Apple almost immune from Samsung’s claims.

If Qualcomm has licensed its technology to Apple directly then the company effectively has the same deal as Samsung, meaning ”Apple’s buying Qualcomm chips is as good as paying for the patents” and neutralizing any litigation in the process… Read More

 

Samsung’s Efforts to Block the iPhone 4S in Italy Go Unrewarded

by Cody on Jan 6, 2012

The back-and-fourth legal battle between Apple and Samsung continues today as the two companies have been handed down another decision from a presiding judge.

Following a similar ruling in France last month, the Mulan court has denied Samsung’s preliminary request to ban iPhone 4S sales in Italy while the court listens to its patent infringement case… Read More

 
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