Patently Apple

Apple Files Lawsuit against Motorola to Defend Multi-Touch

 
The inevitable: When Motorola preemptively launched their declaration judgment action against Apple earlier this month, we knew that Apple was likely to launch multiple patent infringement lawsuits against Motorola once their licensing negotiations failed to produce an agreement. Late yesterday, Apple filed a pair of patent infringement lawsuits against Motorola Inc. and Motorola Mobility Inc. in the Wisconsin Western District Court. The combined lawsuits cover six patents – none of which were covered by Motorola Mobility Inc.'s filed lawsuits. The main focus of these lawsuits centers in on the most important technology of all pertaining to the next generation smartphones: Multi-Touch. In 2009, Apple's COO Tim Cook warned the competition during a financial conference, as follows: "we like competition as long as they don't rip off our IP. And if they do, we will go after anyone who does." Obviously Apple now thinks that Motorola has crossed that line.  

A New Multi-Purpose iPhone Audio Adapter will assist the Deaf

 
On October 28, 2010, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application of Apple's that relates to methods and apparatus for connecting together two electrical devices in which the mating connectors on each device are of different sizes. The mismatch of physical characteristics could be overcome through the use of an audio adaptor unit that is constructed from a plug having one dimension, a jack having another dimension and a coupler that physically and electrically connects the plug and jack together to form a single unit. In the future, this would allow a device like the iPhone to be coupled to such devices as the Ameriphone - cell phone for the deaf – and Bose's QuietComfort headphones. In a secondary patent published today, Apple reveals an early plug removal detection system that could help avoid iPhone disconnects that are caused by earphones jack connections.

 

Apple's Fanatical Eye for Detail Extends to the iPhone's Steel Band

 
In June of this year we presented you with a patent report covering Apple's stunningly crafted iPhone 4. In today's patent report we reveal yet another fanatical industrial design process of Apple's covering nitriding stainless steel. This process is used to create the iPhone 4's steel band which is aesthetically appealing while being scratch and corrosion resistant. And who knows, we may one day see this material extended to entire back panel of a future iPhone.  

Apple Patent Wins: Final Cut Pro, Safari SnapBack, Mac OS Logo +

 
The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of thirteen newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. The notable wins within this group relate to Final Cut Pro, the SnapBack feature found in Apple's Safari browser, the technology behind Apple's brilliant LED backlit displays and finally a design win for their famous Mac OS logo.  

Apple Pounces on Lion, Mission Control & LaunchPad Trademarks

 
Just two weeks prior to Apple's Special Event that provided us with a Peek at Mac OS X Lion, Apple filed for two of their key trademarks in Jamaica: Lion and Mission Control. The third trademark application for "LaunchPad" was only filed the day of Apple's special event in Trinidad and Tobago. The three applications were then quickly filed in China and made public this morning. Apple filed their trademarks under a total of six International Trademark Classes covering them for such things as being an Application Service Provider (ASP), being a provider of education and entertainment services and covering all manner of telecommunications. Apple plans to launch Mac OS X Lion sometime next summer.  Update - October 27: Apple Files for new "App LaunchPad" trademark twist in Canada.