Let's play "what if...."

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Mopetar

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2011
8,474
7,708
136
So it seems pretty obvious that Google is only against software patents when they're used against Google or their partners. Google is a company out to protect their profits just like any other, they aren't some righteous warriors of justice. I find it very far-fetched to think that they could bring about the type of reform you're talking about.

Just like any other company. The notion that Google is some kind of white knight to evil Microsofts, Apples, etc. is naive at best, but more likely flat out wrong. They're there to make money and they'll be for/against software patents as it's convenient for them to be.

P.S. Obama mentioned patent reform in his speech today.

Talk is cheap.
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
It appears as though Apple just got an injunction against Samsung for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany and possibly most of the EU. I'm not sure how this will affect their other devices, but for the tab they decided to postpone or scrap the launch in Australia due to similar legal issues. Their case in the US is going to be coming up sometime in the next few months as well.

Straight up horse poo. "a rectangle screen with rounded corners."
A sad world we live in.
 

tommo123

Platinum Member
Sep 25, 2005
2,617
48
91
a rectangle screen with rounded corners describes a load of 16:9 tvs in the 90s ffs
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
I laughed my ass off at Google's recent attempt to spin the patent issue recently. And I hate to tell you guys, but Android & Google are in a world of hurt right now.
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
I laughed my ass off at Google's recent attempt to spin the patent issue recently. And I hate to tell you guys, but Android & Google are in a world of hurt right now.
Are you talking about the injunction on the Tab or something else?
Funny how all of this is going on at once.
I would laugh too, but the precedent this will cause makes me sad.
When Steve copies, it's inspiration. When Google copies it's an evil megacorp that wants to eat your babies.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
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Samsung should just change the design then. Make the corners diagonal instead of round or something. Maybe add MicroSD card reader while they are at it. Took them 2 weeks after iPad 2 launched to come up with a new, thinner design, shouldn't take that long to change the shape a little to get around the design patent.
 

Mopetar

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2011
8,474
7,708
136
When Steve copies, it's inspiration. When Google copies it's an evil megacorp that wants to eat your babies.

I'd probably be more irked if Apple were suing all of the different manufacturers in that regard, but they've really only gone after Samsung with their design patents. I'm assuming that they've done so because the Samsung products were starting to look a lot like Apple's products, in terms of physical design, GUI design and layout down to style, positioning, and color of icons, as well as the packaging for the products.

Apple-Sues-Samsung-Over-Similarities-Between-iPhone-and-Galaxy-Line-2.png

(Image taken from softpedia.com)

There was also the smart cover knock off that Samsung was showcasing on their site and then quickly pulled when it was pointed out to them how bad it looked in their suit against Apple.

This has less to do with Android and more to do with another manufacturer making something that Apple feels shares entirely too much resemblance with their own product.
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
142
116
And I hate to tell you guys, but Android & Google are in a world of hurt right now.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 does not equal Android as a whole.

Android will be in a world of hurt if it's adoption growth rate slows or stops. That hasn't happened yet.

With Android hardware cycles in the 6-12 month range, and software cycles roughly equal to that, Google and their handset partners can circumvent all the disputed patents in a time frame shorter than it will take for these lawsuits to complete trial.
 

Doboji

Diamond Member
May 18, 2001
7,912
0
76
So I just spent the last few minutes looking through the German dispute... I don't understand how this leaves any room for anyone other than Apple to make Tablets for Europe? Does Apple now own the Tablet invention? I'm utterly floored.
 

Mopetar

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2011
8,474
7,708
136
So I just spent the last few minutes looking through the German dispute... I don't understand how this leaves any room for anyone other than Apple to make Tablets for Europe? Does Apple now own the Tablet invention? I'm utterly floored.

HTC, Motorola, HP, et al. can still make tablets. The only company hit with this suit was Samsung because Apple felt their stuff looked too much like Apple's stuff. Apple might go after other companies, but the argument is nowhere near as good as it is against Samsung.

The other third party Android manufacturers are probably ecstatic about the news since it's unlikely that Apple will try to go after them with design patents and this lawsuit really doesn't have much to do with Android.

Samsung still has Bada up their sleeves, though. It will be interesting to see if they start moving more effort towards that in the future.
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
HTC, Motorola, HP, et al. can still make tablets. The only company hit with this suit was Samsung because Apple felt their stuff looked too much like Apple's stuff. Apple might go after other companies, but the argument is nowhere near as good as it is against Samsung.

The other third party Android manufacturers are probably ecstatic about the news since it's unlikely that Apple will try to go after them with design patents and this lawsuit really doesn't have much to do with Android.

Samsung still has Bada up their sleeves, though. It will be interesting to see if they start moving more effort towards that in the future.

the Xoom is also named in the samsung suit BTW

http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/apples-samsung-complaint-reveals-its-also-suing-motorola-over/

id imagin they will go after everyone. and then hopefully get ass fucked for being anti competetive
 

Mopetar

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2011
8,474
7,708
136
the Xoom is also named in the samsung suit BTW

http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/apples-samsung-complaint-reveals-its-also-suing-motorola-over/

id imagin they will go after everyone. and then hopefully get ass fucked for being anti competetive

Apple was already suing Motorola over unrelated patents in response to Motorola filing a suit against Apple. However, I don't believe that those suits have escalated to the point where either company is seeking to block the import or sale of the other companies products. Even the linked article says that there's no indication that Apple is seeking an injunction to block the sale of the Xoom.

The only reason that Apple sought injunctions to block the sale of Samsung devices is because Samsung tried to do it to Apple first. Until then, Apple was merely suing them for patent violation.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
126
Like you were going to. You are vehemently anti-apple on every single thread

True, but I was warming up to MBA, my buddy just started working there, could get me a discount. For 25% off, it's a decent deal. But not if the remaining 75% are going to pay for their patent trolling.
 

Mopetar

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2011
8,474
7,708
136
True, but I was warming up to MBA, my buddy just started working there, could get me a discount. For 25% off, it's a decent deal. But not if the remaining 75% are going to pay for their patent trolling.

Technically patent trolling is reserved for companies who don't actually use their patents to make anything but still sue other companies for using them. MS, Apple, et al. are just litigious jerks.
 

theeedude

Lifer
Feb 5, 2006
35,787
6,197
126
Reading the FOSS patents blog on this, looks like it's not completely stupid:
http://fosspatents.blogspot.com/2011/08/why-samsung-was-not-put-on-notice.html
But asking for a preliminary injunction comes with liability. A preliminary injunction is ordered only if the court believes you're likely to prevail in the main proceeding, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you will. In the event you lose the main proceeding, you're liable for damages. In this case, if Apple lost the main proceeding against Samsung, it would have to make Samsung whole (indemnification for lost sales etc.). The main proceeding will, however, take about a year in this case (for the first instance, and there could still be an appeal).
Apple could be on the hook for a lot of damages if it loses this. If it takes a year and Samsung convinces a judge it would have sold millions of these in the meantime, and its brand was damaged, it could be a pretty penny.
 

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
True, but I was warming up to MBA, my buddy just started working there, could get me a discount. For 25% off, it's a decent deal. But not if the remaining 75% are going to pay for their patent trolling.

I :wub: my MBA 3rd gen, just put a clear mCover on it a few mintes ago, and a silicone keyboard cover.
 

cheezy321

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2003
6,218
2
0
True, but I was warming up to MBA, my buddy just started working there, could get me a discount. For 25% off, it's a decent deal. But not if the remaining 75% are going to pay for their patent trolling.

Damn that's a good deal.

FWIW, I love my 11" MBA. Fits my needs perfectly, especially when I have a 4 TB NAS that holds all my data.