Patent

Apple and Google still looking to buy Kodak patents

A US Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan approved Kodak's request today to extend the deadline for its bankruptcy case through February of next year. The one-time imaging giant filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, and it's hoping to use the extra time to sell off its patent collection to pay off its creditors. And according to the report, Apple and Google are still among the potential buyers...

Samsung exec says there’s no plans for HTC-like settlement with Apple

Last week, Apple and HTC grabbed a number of headlines when they announced that they had reached a global settlement in patent litigation, effectively ending several ongoing lawsuits between the two companies.

Unsurprisingly, the news has sparked some hope that the iPad-maker would reach a similar deal with its arch enemy, Samsung. But according to a new report, the South Korean company has no intentions to settle...

Apple the target of new lawsuit over iOS location services

Hot on the heels of last week's screen rotation lawsuit comes another infringement claim aimed at Apple. NovelPoint Tracking, which fits the usual patent troll description, filed a lawsuit against the Cupertino company yesterday in the troll-friendly Texas Eastern District Court regarding its location-based patent...

Apple and HTC reach global settlement on patent litigation

So this is huge. Apple and HTC have both announced this evening that they have reached a global settlement on all patent litigation, effectively dismissing all patent-related lawsuits between the two companies. Additionally, the two handset-makers have also agreed to a 10 year cross-licensing deal for all current and future patents...

Patent troll VirnetX adds latest iOS devices and Macs to Apple lawsuit

Hot on the heels of the $368 million payout in the FaceTime suit, patent holding firm VirnetX is trolling Apple again, this time with claims that both the iPhone 5 and iPad mini infringe upon four patents. Both devices, along with the latest iPod and Macs, were added to the lawsuit. Just like the Facetime case could result in a ban of the iPhone 4S, this latest wrinkle might put sales of Apple's newest products in jeopardy ahead of the fast-approaching holiday season...

Apple researching iDevice packaging that doubles as a dock

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has published a number of interesting patents and applications belonging to Apple today. Earlier we saw a patent application for iDevice cooling fans. And now this.

This is actually pretty cool: it's a patent app detailing a new kind of retail packaging for Apple's iOS products that not only protects the device during shipping, but also doubles as a dock for iPhones and iPads...

Apple patents cooling fans for iPhones, iPads

Is there a fan in the future for the iPad or iPhone? That question is front-and-center following word Apple has filed to patent a fan to cool its popular mobile devices. The measure is seen as a response to criticisms that the iPad grows hot due to powerful processors and CPU-intensive tasks.

The patent application, entitled "Cooling system for mobile devices", indicates a mechanical system comprised of fan, motor and an alert which potentially would vibrate the device. Because of the tight quarters, the motor would do double duty, driving both the fan and the alert, when required. Air intake and exhaust would likely employ an existing outlet in the devices, such as a headphone jack or the new Lightning connector port...

Apple awarded significant iPad design patent

Yesterday afternoon, the United States Patent and Trademark Office awarded Apple 29 new patents. Two of them are design-related — one covers retail packaging, and the other covers the iPad's exterior design.

The latter patent is fairly significant, in that it covers the look of Apple's popular tablet. You know how a lot of people said that Apple shouldn't be allowed to patent a rectangle with rounded edges? Well it just did...

Apple ordered to pay $368 million in FaceTime patent case

VirnetX Holding Corporation is a patent holding firm that has a pretty impressive portfolio of IP (Intellectual Property) related to wireless networking and LTE technology. And as you'd expect, it's not afraid to use it.

The company is currently entangled in legal battles with the likes of Cisco and Siemens, and it actually took more than $100 million from Microsoft in court. And according to a new report, it just took Apple for 3x that...

Scott Forstall was one of Apple’s most prolific inventors

Since Apple announced on Monday that Scott Forstall would be leaving the company next year, we've heard a number of reports regarding the way other employees viewed the long-time SVP of iOS Software.

Needless to say, most of the stuff we've heard hasn't been positive. He's been described as polarizing, and abrasive, and was accused of abusing his relationship with Steve Jobs. But that doesn't mean he wasn't an asset...

Apple patents movement-based iOS theft detector

Are you worried your priced iOS or Mac gadget may be stolen? Don't fret, Apple's got your back, according to a new patent filing. Apple plans to use the accelerometer inside iOS devices to detect a theft, then sound an alarm.

Key to preventing those annoying car alarm-like false alerts, Apple's idea includes a special controller which ignores normal bumps and drops, instead listening for signals indicating a snatch-and-grab...

Apple wins significant ITC ruling against Samsung

Apple's legal team has suffered some major blows over the past few weeks, in their ongoing battle with Samsung. First, they lost an appeal on a UK ruling that will force the company to publicly state that Samsung did not copy the iPad. And just a few days ago, the USPTO invalidated one of Apple's more significant patents.

But things may be looking up for the Cupertino litigators. According to a new report, an ITC (International Trade Commission) judge has just ruled in Apple's favor in a complaint case against Samsung, a ruling that could see some of its devices blocked from entering US...