05/24, 3:57pm
Terms of deal remain unclear
Apple has reportedly established a licensing agreement with patent holder SimpleAir, putting an end to the patent infringement battle that began late in 2009. SimpleAir had filed its original lawsuit in the federal district court for the Eastern District of Texas, a venue frequented by plaintiffs in intellectual-property lawsuits, however the settlement was said to have been reached shortly before the formal proceedings commenced.
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05/18, 8:25pm
Legal battle focuses on ActiveSync tech
Microsoft has won an International Trade Commission ruling that may result in an import ban on several Motorola devices. The companies are involved in several separate intellectual-property disputes, though the latest ITC ruling focuses on a lawsuit filed by Microsoft over patented Exchange ActiveSync technology.
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05/13, 7:03pm
Microsoft's 1995 push patent relevant
On April 20, Microsoft fired the most recent shot in its legal skirmish with Motorola in German court in regards to a series of patent enforcement suits preventing Microsoft (amongst others) from using push notifications. In response to the new MS filing, on Friday morning Mannheim Regional Court Judge Andreas Voss said that his court is not prepared to rule on Motorola's complaint versus Microsoft in regards to push notifications from the Hotmail service. A new trial is expected.
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05/05, 7:05pm
Company failed to produce 'design-around' source code
The ongoing Apple vs. Samsung case being tried in the United States took an unusual turn yesterday as Judge Paul S. Grewal granted an unusual "preclusive sanctions" order against Samsung for failing to produce source code for Apple in a timely fashion. The judge had already found Samsung in violation of the order two weeks earlier, and found that the company was guilty of blatantly stalling the case.
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05/01, 10:40am
Google patent for data network control by auction
The USPTO has awarded Google a patent relating to wireless data network management through ongoing real-time auctions. Participating devices would bid against each other for access to the network, forcing power users to pay more.
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04/20, 1:25am
Usable in three positions, practicality unclear
Filed in 2010 but published on April 19, Research in Motion (RIM) applied for a patent for a multiple position input mechanism on a mobile phone, such as a keyboard. While sliding keyboards have been a mainstay of some mobile phones for years, this patent describes a method to have multiple usable positions of the keyboard with both sliding and rotation, each one exposing more phone display than the last.
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04/17, 11:35pm
Patent awarded to Nintendo for gameboy emulation
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently awarded Nintendo patent number 8,157,654 for emulating older handheld consoles. Specifically, Gameboy, Gameboy Color, and Gameboy Advance handhelds are targeted for emulation on external "low capability" computing devices such as airline seat-back displays. It's not immediately apparent what Nintendo plans on doing now that the patent has been awarded.
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04/10, 7:55pm
Patent filed in the era of Symbian S60
Nokia has been granted a patent for technology that enables phones to automatically upload data to social networks. The patent describes a system that could be used to initiate automatic uploads whenever a user performs certain operations, such as changing a music track, capturing an image or video, accessing a website, or changing location.
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04/03, 8:45pm
Misinterpretation 'unprofessional and unacceptable
Federal Judge Richard A. Posner, in rejecting an motion to reconsider parts of his favorable Claim Construction Order of March 29th that adopted Apple's broad interpretation of its scrolling patent against Motorola, ripped into the unnamed Apple attorneys that filed the brief [PDF link], calling it "troubling" and accusing Apple of wasting the court's time. The lawyers had apparently misinterpreted a section of the judge's original order and made arguments that parts of the order were in error.
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03/19, 11:25pm
Tech allows viewer to focus beyond glasses
Microsoft has filed a patent application for a "laser-scanning virtual image display," which is described as a compact display system that can be built into glasses, helmets or goggles. Head-mounted displays are not new, however the patent application describes a method for projector-based presentation rather than placing a small LCD panel directly in front of each eye.
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03/13, 6:10pm
Creates image on changeable wrap-around film layer
Samsung has applied for a patent with the USPTO for a flexible image display technology. Using it, an individual could easily create a 'skin' on a smartphone or tablet that could change the appearance of the device on demand. Although it might have uses elsewhere, Samsung has specifically limited the scope of its patent application to mobile devices.
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02/23, 9:00pm
New approach may portend thinner, lighter keyboard
A patent awarded to Apple earlier today signals that the company is investigating methods to make keyboards even thinner and lighter than they are today without affecting performance, AppleInsider reports. The basic idea is to abandon the "scissors" or "dome" support approach keys currently use in favor of a "rigid support lever" that would reduce travel to as little as 0.2mm (eight one-thousandths of an inch).
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02/22, 9:00pm
Claims to own patents on 'multimedia' voicemails
A patent holding company that fits the description of a patent troll has filed a lawsuit against Apple's iPhone and iPad, claiming that the company's implementation of voicemail violates two "multimedia voicemail" patents that originally belonged to a Florida modem maker called Paradyne, GigaOM reports. The patent refers to the ability to listen to voicemail messages along with viewing associated data (for example an image).
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02/10, 7:00am
Motorola suffers setback in German court
Motorola has failed in its bid to force another 3G/UMTS-based patent injunction against Apple in the Mannheim Regional Court, according to Foss Patents. German Judge Andreas Voss dismissed the evidence presented in court by Motorola’s lawyers on the grounds that it had failed to demonstrate conclusive evidence that Apple had infringed upon the patent in question. Instead, Motorola had tried to argue in general terms that as the patent has been declared essential to the 3G/UMTS standard, that Apple by default had to have violated the patent by using the standard in some of its products.
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01/19, 8:30pm
Another patent may hint at a quiet acquisition
Apple has been awarded a patent for its implementation of Siri, crediting original Siri inventor Thomas Gruber and others with the technology, which covers both its original format and its current Apple-enhanced incarnation. The company was also granted two patents related to battery technology, including a certification on non-rectangular battery shapes that may herald future devices. There's also a hint that Apple has quietly bought another company.
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12/28, 9:00pm
Microsoft already receiving $5 per device
Making the case that Apple should abandon its proxy fight against Google and lawsuits against Android smartphone and tablet makers, a managing partner from a leading intellectual-property firm has told Bloomberg that the company could collect up to $10 per device royalties by negotiating licensing fees rather than use up resources in lawyers' fees and court costs to force opponents to work around Apple's patents.
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12/19, 6:30pm
Experts wonder if Kodak will survive
Eastman Kodak Co.'s woes increased substantially today with the news that the U.S. ITC decision on a patent-infringement suit brought before it by Kodak against both Apple and Research In Motion (RIM) would be delayed. The ruling, which had been expected by December 30th, has now been reset for September 21st of next year in order for Judge Thomas Pender to consider new expert testimony from RIM and other issues.
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11/23, 7:30pm
Could pave the way for Kinect-like abilities
The USPTO has awarded Apple a patent on 3D object-recognition technology that goes well beyond the current face recognition already included in apps such as iPhoto and the iOS 5 camera application, allowing a device to "build" a 3D face or object by analyzing the curves, contours and shadows of a 2D image. Such technology would give Kinect-like detection and recognition capabilities to cameras such as those found in iOS and Mac devices.
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11/15, 9:00pm
Steve Jobs credited as one of the designers
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted a patent for the striking exterior of Apple's Upper West Side store in New York City, just over a year after the patent was first filed. The patent recognizes the unique design of the store, and credits the late Steve Jobs as one of the designers. The Upper West Side store, not to be confused with the iconic glass "cube" of the Fifth Avenue store, features a large glass storefront, along with a curved glass atrium-style roof.
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10/18, 10:00pm
Could prove further hindrance to rivals
Apple has finally been awarded a patent for a system of integrating a touch-screen panel directly into an IPS (in-plane switching) display, as found on the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S -- which it first applied for in 2007, shortly after the announcement of the first iPhone. The method is considered to be both superior and more cost-effective in comparison to the usual method of overlaying a touch-screen layer or panel on top of a display panel.
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10/17, 7:45am
Kodak raises tens of millions in IMAX patent deal
Kodak has made good on its intent to sell off patents that it holds as it seeks to stabilize its weakened financial position. While the company has thousands of patents in their portfolio, its latest official patent sale pertains to laser projection and other technology that has been purchased by the IMAX cinema group. The licensing deal is said to be worth tens of millions of dollars.
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10/07, 2:00am
Combines 'silent disco' with 'mobile clubbing'
Apple yesterday was awarded a patent describing embodiments of a "coordinated group music experience," a technique that combines two emerging entertainment forms, referred to in the patent as "silent disco" and "mobile clubbing." All three involve sharing music wirelessly to personal devices that are then relayed to the user via headphones. Apple's patent describes a way for participants to enjoy music together, but not necessarily the same music at the same time.
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09/20, 6:30pm
Unmeasured costs could be much higher
Three Boston University researchers have put a price tag on the cost of patent trolling in the US. The amount is a staggering $500 billion since 1990. In the past four years, the cost has averaged about $83 billion annually, amounting to more than 25 percent of US R&D spent over the time period.
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09/16, 4:45pm
Laws expected to mitigate patent trolling
After passing a Senate vote by a margin of 89-9, the America Invents Act has become law after receiving a signature from President Obama. The legislation is hailed as the first major reform of the patent system in decades, bringing a wide range of changes, including a first-to-file system, that have been commonplace in many other countries for years.
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08/14, 7:30am
Patent filing shows Microsoft slider phone design
Microsoft has won a patent for a slider phone design. While slider phones are certainly not new, the Microsoft patent differs from conventional slider phone designs. Microsoft’s take has the screen sitting flush with the keyboard when open, rather than having sit higher as in a traditional design.
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08/12, 6:15pm
Devices protected with propulsion, springs
Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos and vice president Greg Hart have submitted a patent filing for "a system and method for protecting devices from impact damage." The inventors have stepped well beyond simple rubber cases, however, as the filing describes a number of advanced methods, such as airbags, that are designed to actively minimize damage from an accidental slip.
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08/09, 12:10am
Latest round in ongoing legal battle
The ongoing series of patent disputes involving HTC (who bought original complainant S3 Graphics) and Apple took yet another turn today as the International Trade Commission (ITC) agreed to review Apple's second patent-infringement complaint against the smartphone and tablet maker, which could result in a block of some current and future HTC products if Apple wins the review, Bloomberg reports.
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07/20, 8:30pm
Has already won an $8M judgement
Personal Audio LLC, a patent troll that was recently awarded an $8 million judgement in a dispute with Apple over the concept of playlists, has expanded the litigation to cover devices released since the original trial began, including the iPad 2 and the latest generations of iPods, iPhone and iPod Touch, filing a second lawsuit today in the notoriously troll-friendly Eastern Texas court district.
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07/11, 11:00pm
Future hardware may have ubiquitous GPS
Imagine a phrasebook on an iPhone where touching a word brings up the same word in a user's native language, or a children's book where touching a character name shows a picture or video of that character. Apple has submitted a patent that would let apps have this ability backed right into the OS and much more, according to a report from Patently Apple. The idea, if patented, could also have commercial implications.
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06/23, 5:50pm
Legislation aims to reduce application backlog
The US House of Representatives is considering new legislation that aims to reform current laws surrounding the patent system. The proposals, which are included in the America Invents Act, are designed to reduce the backlog in patent applications, bring the United States' filing methods in line with those of other countries, and help discourage patent trolls from taking advantage of the current laws to abuse the system.
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06/17, 9:30pm
Could pave the way for a settlement
At a hearing today in San Jose, Apple's attorney Harold McElhinny revealed that executives "at the highest levels" of Apple and Samsung have been meeting and talking about ways to resolve their various patent-infringement lawsuits. Despite the close relationship between the two companies, they have been locked in various patent claims and counter-claims for several months.
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11/18, 3:15pm
Design rigid, yet lighter than metal
Apple engineers appear to have been working to develop new housings using alternative materials such as carbon fiber, a method which was detailed in a patent filing recently published by the US Patent and Trademark Office. The "Reinforced Device Housing" patent, first filed in May 2009, describes a "layered fiber-in-matrix" material used to construct a spine attached to a carbon-fiber skin.
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11/15, 8:20pm
UNM holds patents for lithography tech
The University of New Mexico has filed a lawsuit accusing Intel if illegally using technology protected by a university-held patent. The institution's technology-licensing arm, UNM.STC, has accused the company of infringing on a patent related to double patterning lithography technology, which is used to manufacture semiconductor components.
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10/29, 9:10pm
Nitriding process used on iPhone 4 antenna band?
Apple yesterday was awarded a patent on improving stainless steel by applying a thin layer of nitride to improve its resistance to scratches and impact without changing the look and feel of the metal. The patent, number 20100273538, is described as being "cost-effective" and yet could improve the hardness of the stainless steel considerably.
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08/27, 6:50pm
Dell misses mark, times LSD to strenuous activity
In a nod to Apple's attention to detail and human engineering, Flood Light describes how Apple got its sleep status indicator right, while Dell got it wrong. A July 2002 patent for a Breathing Status LED Indicator describes how the blink rate of a sleep status LED would be timed to a slow breathing rhythm. The blink rate of current Mac notebooks falls within the average respiratory rate of an adult -- between 12-20 breaths per minute. For example, the blink rate of the MacBook Pro 15in late 2008 is exactly 12 cycles per minute.
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05/13, 8:25pm
Apps would appear based on location information
The US Patent and Trademark Office has published a patent application filed by Apple for technology related to location-specific apps. The system could be used to display certain content only when the device is at or near a particular location.
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04/01, 4:50pm
Microsoft files for WP7 panoramic UI patent
It was revealed on Thursday that Microsoft has filed a patent for its Panoramic User Interface used in its latest Windows Phone 7. If the September 2008 patent gets approved in its entirety, it will make it more difficult for competitors to create a similar interface without Microsoft's permission and knowledge.
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03/18, 12:35pm
Networking groups use proximity-based 'tokens'
The US Patent Office on Thursday published an Apple patent application detailing social networking technology using proximity-based communication via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The background description suggests the technology could be used to automatically share contact information between devices, rather than requiring manual entry into web-based networking services.
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03/16, 5:45pm
Projector could be built into remotes
Apple has filed for a patent covering a variety of technology relating to projector systems. The filing, titled "Projection Systems and Methods," describes ways to use projectors for interacting with other devices. Many of the embodiments are focused on improvements to viewing or controlling presentations remotely.
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03/12, 6:30pm
Microsoft found to have willfully infringed patent
The Federal Court of Appeals has upheld a jury verdict against Microsoft in the patent infringement case filed by i4i, according to The Inquirer. Despite Microsoft's confidence that it would win the appeal, judges reaffirmed the earlier decision.
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02/18, 8:50pm
Utility prioritizes recordings to reduce conflicts
TiVo has been awarded a patent, No. 7,665,111, which describes technology used for the company's Season Pass utility. The system allows the user to prioritize recordings, ensuring the favorite shows are stored even if several programs are simultaneously broadcast during the same time slots. The US Patent and Trademark Office had been reviewing the filing for approximately ten years.
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01/25, 11:30am
Samsung deal worth $900 million; NVIDIA to appeal
In separate actions, southern California memory technology company Rambus has cleared a procedural hurdle in in its patent-infringement case against NVIDIA, and settled a claim against South Korean electronics giant Samsung.
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12/22, 7:40pm
Initial judgment lacked enhanced damages
OPTi has announced plans to file a cross-appeal in its patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. Although the judge already awarded the plaintiff $21.7 million in damages, the court did not view Apple's infringement as willful. OPTi was therefore denied its request for enhanced damages, which could have been much higher due to provisions for attorneys' fees and other considerations.
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12/10, 6:55pm
Chip maker satisfies settlement terms
AMD on Thursday announced that it has received the $1.25 billion settlement payment from Intel. The payment satisfies the monetary terms of the agreement over various antitrust and patent disputes. Both companies have also decided to exchange patent rights as part of a five-year cross-license agreement.
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09/10, 8:15pm
Future iPods to get anti-theft technology?
A recent patent filing, submitted by Apple, describes an anti-theft system that utilizes acceleration data to detect if a portable device is stolen. Information from the accelerometer would be analyzed by a controller to determine if the particular direction and speed of movement indicates that a thief might be taking the device.
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08/12, 7:40am
Judge bans Word sales
As part of the final order in a patent infringement suit, Judge Leonard Davis in the U.S. District Court of Eastern Texas has issued a permanent injunction against Microsoft. The company has been effectively banned from selling Word 2003, Word 2007 and similar products.
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06/24, 5:45pm
Sharp TVs banned from US
A number of Sharp LCD TVs have been banned from unlicensed import to the US, as part of a ruling resulting from a patent dispute with Samsung, according to Bloomberg. The two electronics manufacturers have been battling over technology used in the displays, specifically "apertures formed in the conductive layer comprising the electrode." The technology is utilized in LCD panels with wide viewing angles.
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06/04, 2:25pm
iPhone media patent
A patent filing submitted by Apple describes technology for transferring media content between mobile devices. While the iPhone is already capable of sending a variety of data, the patent specifically outlines methods to transfer media while the user is still in the middle of a phone call. The technology would eliminate the need for users to end a call to share media with the person on the other end of the connection.
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05/18, 3:40pm
Microsoft wand patent
A recently-surfaced patent application outlines technology Microsoft describes as a 'magic wand.' The concept could integrates a variety of sensors, such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, range-finders and biometric sensors. Possible input/output components include a keyboard, keypad, buttons, touchpad, display, or speaker, among others. The claims also outline a system for providing instruction based on the wand orientation or other factors.
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04/23, 8:55pm
OPTi wins patent suit
OPTi on Thursday won a patent infringement suit against Apple, including $19 million in damages. The patent involved "predictive snooping" of cache memory for transferring information between a CPU, memory and other components. The jury ruled that Apple willingly infringed on OPTi's patent. Apple attempted to bring doubt to the patent's validity, but the jury ruled the patent to be valid.
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