Patently Apple

Docomo to Begin Selling Apple's iPad Air in the Coming Months

Apple announced that NTT Docomo was a new partner of theirs during Apple's Special Event for the iPhone in September. After months of hesitancy, a senior official at the mobile phone carrier stated this week in Tokyo that they would begin selling Apple's iPad Air very shortly.

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Apple for Faulty Lighting Connector

A new Class Action lawsuit has been initiated by Rendell Roman against Apple on behalf of individuals who purchased devices from Apple that use the Lightning connector that is prone to fraying, breakage, failure and beyond. The complaint alleges that Apple possessed knowledge of the defect prior to distributing the Lightning connector.

Apple's ARM based iDevices Targeted in new Patent Lawsuit

Vantage Point Technology has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. The patent infringement lawsuit concerns Apple's use of ARM processors in products such as the iPhone, iPad and beyond. This patent troll is suing Apple with a 1995 patent once owned by Intergraph Corporation in an effort to gain an ongoing royalty from Apple.

An Inside View of the NetAirus Technologies vs. Apple Trial

Patent lawsuits are a fact of life for technology companies today, and profitable companies with popular products make tempting targets. Apple's own attempts to use patents, notably against Korea-based Samsung, have met with both success and failure, but here in LA Apple was purely on the defensive. Apple's late CEO Steve Jobs was invoked several times during the trial for his famous quote, "we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas", an item the plaintiff hoped would resonate with the 6-woman, 2-man jury. The case is now in the hands of the jury. Report Updated Nov. 26, 2013

New Patent Reveals Apple's "Secure Enclave" Processor for Touch ID and Possible Fingerprint Accessory

When Apple introduced the new iPhone 5S with its Touch ID fingerprint scanner feature, Dan Riccio, Senior VP Hardware Engineering stated at the 2:19 mark of Apple's introductory video that "All fingerprint information is encrypted and stored inside a secure enclave in our new A7 chip. Here it's locked away from everything else, accessible only by the Touch ID sensor. It's never available to other software, and it's never stored on Apple servers or backed up to iCloud." One of Apple's latest patent applications published by the US Patent and Trademark Office reveals the mechanics and thinking behind this "secure enclave" and more.

Samsung's 'Crisis of Design' Cost them another $290 Million

After failed attempts by Samsung to get a mistrial, the Silicon Valley jury ordered Samsung to pay Apple $290 million in damages for copying vital iPhone and iPad features. In an e-mailed statement, Apple stated that the case "has always been about more than patents and money. It has been about innovation and the hard work that goes into inventing products that people love." Today's verdict is the fifth-largest jury award in the U.S. in 2013.

Samsung Flop Number Two: The Almost Curvy Galaxy Round

Last week we reported on the Galaxy Gear being an epic flop. We reported that Samsung had sold only 50,000 smartwatches. Then Samsung went on a PR offensive the following day screaming that the number was really 800,000. That was quickly doused by a Korean news report that noted that Samsung had "shipped" 800,000 but only sold 50,000. The Verge confirmed that to be a fact. To rub it in their face even further, a new Gartner study published today drives home the reality that "Despite the hype surrounding smartwatches, they are unlikely to be featured on many consumers' holiday wish lists this year." Obviously, other than giving them away when consumers purchase a Samsung washing machine, Samsung's so-called innovation is nowhere to be found. And what do you know; one week later and we get to laugh at Samsung's second flop of 2013: The Galaxy Round.

Apple's Website's use of Shopping Cart Functionality Targeted in new Patent Lawsuit

Texas based patent troll eDekka has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. The patent infringement lawsuit states that Apple has infringed on claims 1 and 3 of their 1992 patent 6,266,674. More specifically, the company alleges that Apple's infringement involves their website's use of "shopping cart" functionality which is their technology. And like all good patent trolls, they also filed separate lawsuits against Symantec Corporation and Liberty Interactive on the same day.

Apple's iPhone 5S clocked in as the World's Best-Selling Smartphone in September

Hong Kong-based market research firm Counterpoint Research announced late yesterday that Apple's 2013 flagship phone became the world's best-selling smartphone in September, even though it was on the market for just 10 days. Starting on September 20, the iPhone 5s became available in nine countries including the US, and it outsold any other smartphone. The launch of the iPhone 5s made the Samsung Galaxy S4 drop to second place. The next spot was taken by Apple's iPhone 5, followed by the cheaper 5c.

Will Apple Challenge a newly filed "Swiss Apple Inc." Trademark?

Today a new trademark surfaced at the US Patent and Trademark Office that Apple may want to challenge before it gets approved. The trademark is for a logo noted as "Swiss Apple Inc." which is a company out of Carlsbad California. The application was filed electronically under number 86031606.

A New Apple iPhone 5S Touch ID Patent Surfaces

Patently Apple was first to reveal Apple's Touch ID patents in Europe just days before Apple unveiled this new feature in the iPhone 5S in September. Today, the US Patent & Trademark Office published another Touch ID related patent application from Apple that covers the circuits and packaging for fingerprint sensors.

Apple Seeks Patents for Five New Liquidmetal Inventions Covering 3D Printing and More

On November 21, 2013, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a new series of five liquidmetal patent applications from Apple. While all of the five patents are highly technical in nature, two of the patents focus on 3D printing.

Apple may cut iPhone 5C Production again while Implementing a New OEM Operating Model Strategy

As early as mid-October we reported that Apple had notified two assemblers that they'd be reducing orders for the new iPhone 5C and just last week we reported that Foxconn reduced iPhone 5C production to focus on the iPhone 5S. Today, yet another report has emerged claiming that Apple's main iPhone 5C partner is dramatically reducing production.

Apple's iCloud, iPhoto & Photo Stream Targeted in new Lawsuit

A patent troll by the name of TLI Communications has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple. The patent infringement lawsuit concerns Apple's iCloud, iPhoto, iMovie and Photo Stream products. According to the court document, TLI alleges that Apple's products use their patented technology without license or authority to classify images so that they can be easily uploaded, stored, organized, retrieved and shared. On the same day that they filed their lawsuit against Apple, TLI filed a similar separate lawsuit using the very same patent against Facebook.

Samsung Patent Supports Rumors of Retina Scanner for Devices

Earlier in the quarter the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Samsung that relates to a possible future authentication system for devices like their Galaxy line of smartphones and tablets. The patent supports the rumors that we reported on in mid-October. The system provides Samsung with an alternative to Apple's iPhone 5S Touch ID fingerprint scanner, though I highly doubt that retailers will support such a form of authorization for future purchases in the near future.