Apple: Android started here

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EightySix Four

EightySix Four

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2004
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runawayprisoner said:
So they are basically saying... that whatever is made during the time a guy is employed by them belongs to them, and if you intend on using it, even over 20 years after, then they'll sue you.
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Yeah, most engineering firms own any IP you create while you're working for them.
 
gevorg

gevorg

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 2004
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Apple is becoming absurd like Oracle. Won't be surprised if they go on law firm acquisition spree with their billion dollar "war stash".
 
zerocool84

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
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I've said it before and I'll say it again, Apple has become the new Microsoft, trying to strong-arm it's competition out of existence.
 
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runawayprisoner

Platinum Member
Apr 2, 2008
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EightySix Four said:
Yeah, most engineering firms own any IP you create while you're working for them.
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I think that applies only if it is stated so in the contract and that the contract was acknowledged and signed by the inventor/creator.

But what escapes me in this tale is...

A) Is Andy Rubin so forgetful that he would not remember he already wrote the same codes for Apple a few years ago while creating a brand new operating system?

B) If said patent digs so far down into Android's core, how come Apple didn't file claims against all other manufacturers at once... plus Google, but only against HTC in this case?

And either way, it's just bullying... if Apple already held these patents, then they simply waited until someone profited enough off of Android to sue and claim damages.
 
B

BenSkywalker

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,140
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Is Andy Rubin so forgetful that he would not remember he already wrote the same codes for Apple a few years ago while creating a brand new operating system?
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The patent in question covers a software driver for a fax/modem connected to a land line- go ahead and read the whole patent. That Andy Rubin can't figure out WTF Apple is talking about it displays he is not utterly and profoundly insane.
 
theeedude

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
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This is some crazy talk out of Apple. It's Silicon Valley, people change jobs all the time. If Apple is implying that Android started at Apple, it's simply batsh!t crazy. Considering Linux kernel also "violates" these BS patents from the 90s, next thing they are going to say is Linux started at Apple too. This and sending its goons to impersonate cops and do illegal searches is telling me the company is getting arrogant.
 
Dulanic

Dulanic

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2000
9,967
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Apple will regret starting this patent war. This is no longer Android vs iOS patent war. It is now HTC, Samsung, LG, Google and more vs Apple... who has more patents? Odds are that Apple is going to come out of this war hurting.
 
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annomander

Member
Jul 6, 2011
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Dulanic said:
Apple will regret starting this patent war. This is no longer Android vs iOS patent war. It is now HTC, Samsung, LG, Google and more vs Apple... who has more patents? Odds are that Apple is going to come out of this war hurting.
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As far as I remember Nokia sued first.
 
I

Icepick

Diamond Member
Nov 1, 2004
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So what? Android improved on Apple's excellent ideas that revolutionized smartphones. Sorry, but if you get it as right as Apple did and take the industry in a new direction then, yeah, everything that follows is going to appear as "improvements" to your innovations.

Would Apple rather not have any competition? That's not very American of them is it?
 
akugami

akugami

Diamond Member
Feb 14, 2005
6,210
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runawayprisoner said:
I think that applies only if it is stated so in the contract and that the contract was acknowledged and signed by the inventor/creator.
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Generally speaking, all engineers and managers at a tech firm will sign a contract stating such. It's standard practice.

But what escapes me in this tale is...

A) Is Andy Rubin so forgetful that he would not remember he already wrote the same codes for Apple a few years ago while creating a brand new operating system?
Click to expand...

He wouldn't remember exact code but he would remember in general what stuff he did, unless it's like 10 years ago. But yeah, this one's a head scratcher.

B) If said patent digs so far down into Android's core, how come Apple didn't file claims against all other manufacturers at once... plus Google, but only against HTC in this case?
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Probably a PR campaign at this point is the only thing I can think of. If Apple had a real smoking gun, they'd already have sued Android and tried to get a general ban on all Android devices.

As for HTC, Apple has a few things related to UI they're suing HTC for. Not everyone may use the same UI elements. The other aspect of this is that generally you sue the guy who can't fight back, or has limited ability to fight back to try to get an easy win. When/if you win you go to court and sue the bigger fish with court precedence in your corner.

And either way, it's just bullying... if Apple already held these patents, then they simply waited until someone profited enough off of Android to sue and claim damages.
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Welcome to Patent Litigation 101.

Icepick said:
Would Apple rather not have any competition? That's not very American of them is it?
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American? No. Capitalistic? Yes. And you're delusional if you don't think HTC, Samsung, Moto, etc. don't think the same way.
 
poofyhairguy

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
akugami said:
And you're delusional if you don't think HTC, Samsung, Moto, etc. don't think the same way.
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Apple is definitely the worst.

First they brought up suits, not to legitimately get compensated for their innovations but to block competitors from the market. Then we learn in the suits that Apple patented stuff that should NEVER be patented (like rectangles) and that Apple was willing to photoshop competing products to help their case. After their actions forced Google to buy Moto, they now want to cry about the new competitor that they basically created.

Apple is like a rich kid in a middle class neighborhood who is first to get a new toy. He is proud of his toy, and proud of himself for thinking of the toy, and he refuses to share. Meanwhile Google is a poor kid down the block that pulled the toy box out of a dumpster and put together a similar toy using scraps in his dad's workshop. Meanwhile the rich kid complains to his parents that his toy is no longer special, and even though his argument is weak he complains so loudly in such a temper-tantrum that his parents go and buy the rip-off toy from the poor kid's parents just so the rich kid can destroy it to feel better about himself. Meanwhile, instead of fighting back, the poor kid pooled the money he made working his paper route and bought the newest version of the rich kid's toy. Now the rich kid is complaining that the poor kid won't let him play with the poor kid's hard earned toy, and he tells the poor kid that part of the new toy is his because he had the idea for the original toy and the poor kid wouldn't have the toy if it wasn't for him so he must share.

I hope eventually the rich kid's parents (US and EU governments) give him a spanking for acting like such a brat.
 
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preslove

preslove

Lifer
Sep 10, 2003
16,754
64
91
Rubin left Apple in 1992.

<redacted>. APPLE.

Edited for profanity. While profanity is allowed in the technical forums it's at a limited level, moderator discretion applies and I'm going to edit this one.

Moderator PM
 
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A

annomander

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Jul 6, 2011
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I think people need to read. This information isn't about patents or disallowing something. The reason it has being brought up as it discredits something HTC said, and if it discredits something, however minor then that can be then used to cast doubt in other areas.

Apple provided this statement as a clarification that it felt it had to give because HTC had led the commission to believe that Rubin had begun the work on Android at General Magic or Danger.
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ElFenix

ElFenix

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Mar 20, 2000
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runawayprisoner said:
B) If said patent digs so far down into Android's core, how come Apple didn't file claims against all other manufacturers at once... plus Google, but only against HTC in this case?
Click to expand...

you only get one shot at each of them so you don't go after the strongest player first. you go after the weakest one to test out strategies
 
preslove

preslove

Lifer
Sep 10, 2003
16,754
64
91
annomander said:
I think people need to read. This information isn't about patents or disallowing something. The reason it has being brought up as it discredits something HTC said, and if it discredits something, however minor then that can be then used to cast doubt in other areas.
Click to expand...

It discredits nothing. Rubin left Apple in 1992. If you think Rubin was working on iOS in 1992, you're an idiot.
 
A

annomander

Member
Jul 6, 2011
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preslove said:
It discredits nothing. Rubin left Apple in 1992. If you think Rubin was working on iOS in 1992, you're an idiot.
Click to expand...

Before trying to act hard and opening your mouth and putting your foot in it, again read and try to understand the article.
 
zinfamous

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,795
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runawayprisoner said:
Huh... Apple claims Andy Rubin started work on Android while in their employment.

http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/09/02/apple-andy-rubin-started-android-here/

So they are basically saying... that whatever is made during the time a guy is employed by them belongs to them, and if you intend on using it, even over 20 years after, then they'll sue you.

I think Apple's lawyers are hungry... very much so...
Click to expand...

well, that is true anywhere you go--industry, corporate, academia or wherever.

Why do you think University of Florida is so wealthy? Gatorade.

the only issue here would be if they have any evidence that Android was created on Apple's dime.

A rather hard thing to prove, possibly, but if so, this could be bad for the Googles.
 
Aikouka

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
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I thought the allegations weren't on the mobile operating system itself but rather some aspect of the way it operates which is different enough. I haven't read any of the articles in detail, but it sounds like a few posters in this thread are taking it too literally. This guy could have been working on R&D that was originally planned for MacOS, but was never implemented.
 
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