If you Don't Get it Yet: Apple's at War!

There's a movement against all things related to Apple patents and Intellectual Property of late. They're a loud bunch that came out of nowhere once Apple began winning on several legal fronts against Samsung and other Android supporters. Is it any surprise? No - it's par for the course, except for the fact that some of the naysayers came from within the Mac community oddly. But naysayers have been wrong about Apple producing the iPod, the iPhone and Apple's iPad. They whined for years that Apple's patents wouldn't lead to actual products - and that patents never forecasted products. Well, in case you didn't know, the definition of stupid is when someone keeps repeating the same message over and over again hoping for a different outcome. But then again they're stupid, so they'll never get that. Humorous but sad.  

Beyond the anti-patent movement, it was reported earlier this month in a revealing report by DigiTimes that "since January 2011, three events have occurred in China which has led some upstream component suppliers to believe there is a conspiracy by the China government to try to suppress Apple's supply chain. The moves are said to be counter attacks which are part of China's trade war with the US."

In 2007 when Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone he made it crystal clear that the then 2007 iPhone already had over 200 patents protecting it and that Apple would defend their product, as later stated by Tim Cook; The same 200 patents that the naysayers didn't believe were real.

Apple has since been fighting Samsung on several legal fronts while being counter sued. And unless you live under a rock, you know that Steve Jobs was and Apple still is ready to stay the course and go to war against Android. Yes, it's war, if you didn't already guess that. And Patently Apple isn't going to back down, retreat or hide like so many in the community are willing to do. Its war and we're glad to take a stand on Apple's Intellectual Property. It's also a matter of principle. Intellectual Property matters whether the anti-patent movement gets that or not. This is North America where protecting IP still matters. If the rules are different in Europe, then make the argument to Europeans.

So, am I glad to hear that the government of Taiwan is concerned about Apple's patent? – Hell yes! I'm glad that Steve Jobs had the guts to take a stand on their IP. Apple lost the original PC war due to Apple legal falling asleep and allowing Microsoft to basically copy the Mac legally. Steve Jobs was mad as hell over what Google pulled off with Android, being that the former CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, was on their board - and vowed to go to war. So if the competition is shaking in their boots right now over Apple's IP in Taiwan – then Great!

Here's a review of Tuesday's report on Apple's so called controversial patent:

Apple is Granted a Second iOS "Slide to Unlock" Patent

Apple has received their second Granted Patent for the iOS "Slide to Unlock" opening screen feature as noted below. If a user doesn't use a security code for their iOS device, then this is the screen graphic that they'll be greeted with. The user simply slides the arrow to the extreme right side to unlock the screen and be presented with their home screen. Those choosing to lock their screen with a security code will be greeted with an alternative screen graphic that displays a numeric pad to enter a security password, which isn't covered in this patent.

Apple's First Claim: A method of unlocking a hand-held electronic device, the device including a touch-sensitive display, the method comprising: detecting a contact with the touch-sensitive display at a first predefined location corresponding to an unlock image; continuously moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with movement of the contact while continuous contact with the touch screen is maintained, wherein the unlock image is a graphical, interactive user-interface object with which a user interacts in order to unlock the device; and unlocking the hand-held electronic device if the moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first predefined location to a predefined unlock region on the touch-sensitive display.

To review Apple's other 14 patent claims and invention detailing, see granted patent 8,046,721. Apple credits Senior VP of iPhone Software Scott Forstall along with team members Imran Chaudhri, Bas Ording, Freddy Anzures, Marcel Van Os, Stephan Lemay and Greg Christie as the inventors of this patent which was originally filed in Q2 2009. Apple's first granted patent on this front came in February of this year.