Apple Wants To Ban Galaxy Nexus Sales In The US Over Patent Infringement
The ongoing spat between Apple and Samsung shows no signs of letting up, with Apple having just filed a motion for preliminary injunction against the Korean LCD specialist’s Galaxy Nexus in the US.
Interestingly enough, though, the four counts of infringement cited in the complaint point to software issues – something which has nothing to do with Samsung, rather Google’s Android Mobile OS. It is thought the suit is more of an indirect swoop at the Big G, dragging Samsung along for another date in the Patent Infringement World Tour as a supporting act.
The Galaxy Nexus, which took quite a while to finally retail Stateside, runs a stock version of Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich. Samsung doesn’t add anything else to the table except the device alone, meaning any software element – infringing or otherwise – rests solely on the shoulders of Google.
Filed Thursday, the motion points to four patents – all of which could seriously hinder Google’s business if they were found to breach the fruit company’s intellectual property. The first is a ‘data tapping’ patent, which makes up part of Siri’s search functionality. Next comes the iconic slide-to-unlock, something the guys at Cupertino have had a bee in their bonnets about for a few weeks now; as well as a patent regarding the mannerisms of automatically completed words when text is tapped into the device.
The ‘data tapping’ patent has already forged success against Android devices in the past, with Apple having already won a request to block the import of HTC devices – a ban which will come into effect in two months’ time. Apple goes on to describe Samsung as: "a compulsive and unrepentant infringer on Apple’s patents" – strong, yet unsurprising words which Steve Jobs would most certainly have advocated.
Apple has been on the offensive on the home front recently, with Motorola – a yet to be Google-owned company – also in the firing line. There’s an ongoing rift between the two over in Germany, and just yesterday, Apple filed a complaint in the US against Motorola for its abuse of patent licensing on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
Stay tuned, folks, this could get very, very messy interesting, and we’ll be keeping more than a close eye on proceedings.
(via TNW)
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New Patent Suggests Apple Working on 3D iPhone Tech
We love us some patents here at RedmondPie, and Apple is one company that just likes to apply for patents as if the fate of the world depended on it. Of course, this being Apple, their patent applications tend to get picked up by the technology press and then picked apart in the hope we find a future product or service hidden in there somewhere!
Today is one day when such a patent has reared its head, and this one appears to pertain to a spot of 3D technology, something that Apple has yet to bring to any of its devices, be they iOS or Mac.
The patent calls for a 3D system that would be available to iOS devices, allowing a pseudo-3D effect to be created using the magic of technology. Using Apple’s implementation, no 3D glasses would be required.
The patent suggests that the new 3D mode could be activated using some kind of gesture, allowing users to switch between 2D and 3D modes at will.
The implementation, should it be used, would rely on sensors such as the accelerometer and compass to detect movement and then to allow the device to change the orientation of on-screen objects. This would create a 3D illusion for the user, thanks to added eye-tracking technology.
We have seen a similar technology demonstrated on an iPad already, and it works surprisingly well once you adjust to it. Adding some hardware and addition software support would only serve to make the experience even more enjoyable.
Smartphones with 3D technology are not a new idea. HTC, for example, has had a 3D-equipped Android phone on sale for some time now, with limited success. The gaming industry has also had its first handheld machine with 3D capabilities in the Nintendo 3DS, again with limited success.
With the debate still raging as to whether 3D in televisions is worthwhile or not, the same debate is sure to take place over smartphones. Do we need 3D smartphones, and if so, what will we use them for beyond the usual gimmicks? If Apple can make something from a 3D interface that isn’t possible with one less ‘D’ then we are all for it.
If Apple is going to give us some fancy spinning icons that don’t add to the experience though. then we just don’t really care.
Remember folks, more ‘Ds’ don’t always make better devices!
(via Patently Apple)
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German Court Dismisses Motorola Patent Claim Against Apple
After two recent patent-related victories over Apple in Germany, Motorola was dealt a setback today when a Manheim court threw out one of its claims regarding 3G/UMTS wireless technology.
As noted by patent blogger Florian Mueller, the Mannheim Regional Court said Motorola "failed to present conclusive evidence for its infringement contention."
In its suit, Motorola said that any implementation of 3G/UMTS will inevitably infringe on its patent rather than bringing forth any Apple products that actually do so.
"Since the asserted patent claim is centered around the 'means' used to generate a number that optimizes wireless transmissions, the court would have wanted to see proof that Apple's products contain such 'means,'" Mueller wrote. "But [Motorola] didn't show any kind of actual implementation (neither hardware nor software), and arguing merely on the basis of the specifications of the standard was insufficient to win."
Today's ruling comes after two wins for Motorola. In December, a Manheim judge found that certain Apple products infringe on Motorola patents for data packet transfer technology (GPRS). That prompted the temporary removal of several Apple products from its German online story earlier this month.
Also this month, meanwhile, the Manheim court granted a permanent injunction against Apple's iCloud push email notifications.
As a result, Mueller argued, Motorola and its legal team probably think that "two out of three ain't bad."
Motorola is demanding that Apple pay 2.25 percent of the net selling price of its 3G/UMTS products as a royalty, Mueller said. Not surprisingly, Apple is not in agreement.
Motorola Mobility, meanwhile, is in the process of being acquired by Google. The EU is set to rule on the merger by Feb. 13, and recent reports suggest that the Department of Justice in the U.S. could approve the deal as early as next week. For more, see Google Acquires Motorola Mobility: What You Need to Know.
Motorola's new Droid 4 hits stores today; for more, see PCMag's full review and the slideshow below.
For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.
For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.Apple looks to end Motorola patent attack in Germany with U.S. suit
Apple looks to end Motorola patent attack in Germany with U.S. suit
By AppleInsider Staff
Published: 05:03 PM EST (02:03 PM PST)Apple stayed on the legal offensive Friday, filing a new lawsuit in a U.S. court that claims Motorola Mobility's recent patent barrage of patent claims in Germany is in breach of a licensing agreement between the RAZR maker and Qualcomm.
The complaint, lodged in the Southern District Court of California, asserts that Apple buys and uses Qualcomm wireless baseband processor in its iPhone 4S product and should therefore be a third-party beneficiary to Motorola's license agreement with the chip maker, reports Reuters.
Apple's suit also claims that the patent rights Motorola is exerting in Germany are exhausted in both Europe and the U.S., thus any current or future litigation regarding said patent would be in violation of the patent's original contract.
The patent in question relates to certain how devices connect to UMTS an GPRS networks, a piece of Motorola technology that was licensed by Qualcomm to build baseband chips like the MDM6610 chip found in the CDMA version of the iPhone 4S. In December, a German court handed down an injunction against the iPhone and 3G-capable iPads, saying that the devices infringed on Motorola-owned European Patent 1010336.
In today's filing it is contested that when Qualcomm paid Motorola to use the patent, the company also bought the rights for its customers, including Apple.
From the complaint:
This is a lawsuit asserting claims for breach of contract, declaratory, and injunctive relief related to Motorola?s European Patent No 1 010 336 (?the ?336 patent?) and the equivalent
U.S. Patent No. 6,359,898 (?the ?898 patent?). Motorola has sued Apple in Germany, claiming infringement of the ?336 patent based on Apple?s use of Qualcomm components in Apple?s 26
iPhone 4S product. Motorola?s German lawsuit is in direct breach of a Patent Licensing Agreement between Motorola and Qualcomm. As a Qualcomm customer, Apple is a third-party
beneficiary of that contract. Moreover, under this same contract, Motorola?s rights under the ?336 and the ?898 patents are exhausted.
In total, today's filing seeks judgment on the following five outlined counts:
Breach of contract to which Apple is a third party beneficiary.Declaratory judgment that Apple is authorized to use Qualcomm components under a covenant not to sue.
Declaratory judgment that Motorola's patent rights are exhausted.
Permanent equitable injunction.
Permanent anti-suit injunction
Qualcomm MDM6610 baseband chip in iPhone 4S teardown. | Source: TechRepublic
With the suit, Apple is looking to end the prosecution enforcement of Motorola's German claims, a permanent injunction of further lawsuits regarding the patent, damages for breach of contract and compensation for legal fees incurred during the hearing process.
Motorola has lodged numerous patent claims against Apple in Germany over a variety of patents, most recently losing a suit in Mannheim over certain 3G/UMTS technology. The telecom has dealt blows to the iPhone makers, however, and is expected to enforce an injunction in the the country related to iCloud's push services.
The U.S. District Court case is Apple Inc. and Apple Sales International v. Motorola Mobility Inc., 12-cv-355.
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USPTO rejects 17 out of the 21 claims of the ’476 patent between Oracle and Google
We all know about the patent war between Apple and all the Android manufacturers but there is another patent war going on between Oracle and Google from a long time. The United States Patents and Trademark office has given Google a great Christmas present in a final rejection of 17 of the 21 claims of the ’476 patent, including all seven of the patent’s independent claims.
All of the other claims were sent for reexamination except for claim 14 which was the only claim which was in the favor of Oracle in the litigation. As we look at the whole picture right now Oracle does not look in a good state but they have till February 20 2012 for reconsideration or appeal for the final rejection.
Source: Groklaw
Nokia and Apple end patent litigation , Apple to become a Nokia licensee
Nokia and Apple have finally settled all pending patent litigation between the two companies which has been going on for over 2 years now. It’s a small victory for Nokia who has invested billions of dollars in R&D. The exact terms of the deal have not been disclosed but Apple will make a one-time payment to Nokia and will be royalties for the duration of the agreement. We expect the one time payment to be at least a few hundred million dollars.
Nokia enters into patent license agreement with Apple
Apple payments to Nokia settle all litigation and have positive financial impact
Nokia Corporation
Stock exchange release
June 14, 2011 at 08:05 (CET +1)Espoo, Finland – Nokia announced that it has signed a patent license agreement with Apple. The agreement will result in settlement of all patent litigation between the companies, including the withdrawal by Nokia and Apple of their respective complaints to the US International Trade Commission.
The financial structure of the agreement consists of a one-time payment payable by Apple and on-going royalties to be paid by Apple to Nokia for the term of the agreement. The specific terms of the contract are confidential.
“We are very pleased to have Apple join the growing number of Nokia licensees,” said Stephen Elop, president and chief executive officer of Nokia. “This settlement demonstrates Nokia’s industry leading patent portfolio and enables us to focus on further licensing opportunities in the mobile communications market.”
During the last two decades, Nokia has invested approximately EUR 43 billion in research and development and built one of the wireless industry’s strongest and broadest IPR portfolios, with over 10,000 patent families. Nokia is a world leader in the development of handheld device and mobile communications technologies, which is also demonstrated by Nokia’s strong patent position.
This agreement is expected to have a positive financial impact on Nokia’s recently revised outlook for the second quarter 2011 of around break-even non-IFRS operating margin for Devices & Services.
Nokia sues Apple in UK, Germany and Netherlands over patent infringement !
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The legal battle over patents between Nokia and Apple has been going on for quite some time now in the United States. Apple sued Nokia in the UK back in September and now Nokia has sued Apple not only in UK but also Germany and Netherlands !
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