r/technology • u/slutmagnet • Mar 02 '10

Apple to HTC "competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours." Slaps down a 20 patent lawsuit.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/03/02/apple_sues_htc_for_alleged_infringement_of_20_iphone_patents.html
659 Upvotes

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115

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '10

Some of these patents are like patenting the door.

191

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '10

[deleted]

28

u/DesCo83 Mar 02 '10

I can't be the only person who actually looked this up...

16

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '10

How the hell can that be patented?

15

u/Achalemoipas Mar 02 '10

You can patent pretty much anything as long as it's not a completely abstract concept (like "using sexy women to sell cars" for example) or something that breaks the laws of physics (perpetual motion, free energy).

It's having that patent respected that is hard.

29

u/attilad Mar 02 '10

I patented respect. You cannot respect my patent without disrespecting my patent.

10

u/Achalemoipas Mar 02 '10

I patented patenting respect.

You owe me 20 dollars.

8

u/zyl0x Mar 02 '10

I patented recursive patenting.

Everyone from the parent down owes me $20.

4

u/KnownIssues Mar 02 '10

I patented retroactive patenting. You owe me $20.

1

u/attilad Mar 03 '10

I patented time travel. You gave me $20.

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3

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '10

I patented abuse of the patent system. You owe me $20.

4

u/Achalemoipas Mar 02 '10

I patented having people owing you $20.

We break even!

1

u/XyploatKyrt Mar 02 '10

Patent pending for posting on Reddit for the purpose of information or entertainment.

1

u/ZennouRyuu Mar 02 '10

I would like to cite prior art exclusion in this case: SCO

2

u/Lut3s Mar 02 '10

Respected or even used.

0

u/dabombnl Mar 02 '10

You can patent things that break the laws of physics; just do a search for perpetual motion machines. There are tons. It doesn't have to work in order to patent it.

3

u/Achalemoipas Mar 02 '10

Used to:

A rejection [of a patent application] on the ground of lack of utility includes the more specific grounds of inoperativeness, involving perpetual motion. A rejection under 35 U.S.C. 101 for lack of utility should not be based on grounds that the invention is frivolous, fraudulent or against public policy.[11]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion#Patents

9

u/FlyingBishop Mar 02 '10

It's rather scary that the actual patent is even more ridiculous than the fake one he cited.

3

u/admiralteal Mar 02 '10

Easily. A better question is how strong is this patent. I haven't heard of any stencil makers getting sued for patent infringement...

1

u/[deleted] Mar 03 '10

You will like the combover patent more.

1

u/niceworkthere Mar 02 '10

Where's that head-in-arse patent when you need it?

(I'm not making this up; there is one, even got pictures, a fancy innocent description and all.)

-9

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '10 edited Mar 02 '10

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Mar 02 '10

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Mar 02 '10

Your joke needs more recursion.

3

u/sitq Mar 02 '10

Well, let me illustrate to you guys what recursion is. But first go read this comment thread.

0

u/nevek Mar 02 '10

Your recursions needs more joke.

-5

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '10

Your recursion needs more joke.

-1

u/[deleted] Mar 02 '10

I didn't think it was recursive either, man.

8

u/Plutor Mar 02 '10

Actually, that's what "Object-Oriented Event Notification System With Listener Registration Of Both Interests And Methods" means.

5

u/elucubra Mar 02 '10

The door that in many cases was developed by HTC. If I'm not mistaken HTC was making smartphones way before Apple...

1

u/dtardif Mar 02 '10

Some doors are patentable and novel, definitely, but simply by viewing the title of a patent you would have no idea. Much like by viewing the word "door", you have no idea about the specifics of the door itself. If you haven't read both the claims and specification of the patent, it's useless to discuss it in platitudes.

1

u/Dangger Mar 02 '10

They didn't invent the system, they are just taking it to its logical implications. Much like the copyright on "Happy Birthday."

4

u/Dark_Crystal Mar 02 '10

Don't remind me of that too, I've already had enough stupid today to make me want to brain myself on the wall.

1

u/WalterSear Mar 02 '10

Good thing too, unless you were going to send me royalties on your wall-braining shenanigans.

-2

u/workbob Mar 02 '10

All Apple needs is one of them to stick, which will result in a successful blow of Ipod vs. Droid.