Apple’s New iPad Patent Reveals The Absurdity Of Our Patent System

Sasqui · Nov 9, 2012

This makes me ill.

Earlier this week, Apple got a bunch of new patents approved, including one covering the "design" of the original iPad.

What does this "design" patent cover?

Mostly, it covers the fact that the iPad's "design" is a rectangle with rounded corners.

If there has been any recent patent that better reveals the absurdity of our current patent system, it's hard to imagine what it would be.

Related: Why Steve Jobs Was "Wrong" About the iPad Mini: Blodget

For the last few decades, the idea of tablet computers has often been discussed. Several companies created have prototypes. As far as I can remember, all of these prototypes were rectangles with rounded corners. (Do you remember a triangle-shaped one? Maybe a disk? Neither do I). Sharp corners, meanwhile, could potentially hurt consumers, so of course intelligent designers will round them.

But now Apple has been given a patent for the iPad design that includes its rectangular shape and rounded corners.

So... Does that mean that Apple will now seek an injunction against Google, Amazon, Samsung, and other companies that have produced rectangular-shaped tablets with rounded corners? Will Apple try to use the patent to extort billions out of these companies?

Thankfully, patent expert Alexandre Montagu of MontaguLaw, the author of Intellectual Property: Money And Power In A New Era, doubts that it will.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/dail...bsurdity-patent-system-143108743.html#more-id

Frick · Nov 9, 2012

Any links to the actual patent?

Fourstaff · Nov 9, 2012

Blame the silly laws not the one who abuses them.

de.das.dude · Nov 9, 2012

has anyone patented a pen1s? then i can patent my pen1s?

then everyone boy born will have to pay me money. i will be rich.

*troll logic*

Sasqui · Nov 9, 2012

Frick said:
Any links to the actual patent?

I couldn't locate it here: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...IELD1=&co1=AND&TERM2=rectangle&FIELD2=&d=PTXT

Will dig some more.

temp02 · Nov 9, 2012

Frick said:
Any links to the actual patent?

US Patent D670,286

Sasqui · Nov 9, 2012

temp02 said:
US Patent D670,286

Yea, just found it here: http://www.google.com/patents/USD67...NGqIIHo0QGsz4HQDQ&sqi=2&pjf=1&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAA

I'm going to patent my office desk... be back in 5 minutes :laugh:

Frick · Nov 9, 2012

temp02 said:
US Patent D670,286

....

I actually laughed.

AphexDreamer · Nov 9, 2012

Next apple patents the line and curve.

Drone · Nov 9, 2012

I'm not even gonna read all that shit to know that patent system is fucked lol

MxPhenom 216 · Nov 9, 2012

Patenting Shapes..................seems legit :rolleyes:

I guess we will see Triangular hand devices now??

Frick · Nov 9, 2012

MxPhenom 216 said:
Patenting Shapes..................seems legit

I guess we will see Triangular hand devices now??

Go ahead and patent it.

And that document is small. Scroll to the images on the bottom.

Binge · Nov 9, 2012

Can we sue Apple for monopolizing shapes?

My small business is unable to profit from rectangles with rounded edges in a world that demands rectangles with rounded edges. I demand restitution.

Fourstaff · Nov 9, 2012

Binge said:
Can we sue Apple for monopolizing shapes?

EU will do that for you. In a few years time Apple will have to sell rectangles with the option of either rounded corners or squared corners, not just rounded ones. Also, Apple will be banned from selling squares, but they will be able to appeal that decision.

patrico · Nov 9, 2012

de.das.dude said:
has anyone patented a pen1s? then i can patent my pen1s?

then everyone boy born will have to pay me money. i will be rich.

*troll logic*

lol funny

what a crock of crap though, they'll try and patent the colour white next

Red_Machine · Nov 9, 2012

It's called "iPod Signature White" for a reason, y'know...

Sasqui · Nov 9, 2012

Binge said:
Can we sue Apple for monopolizing shapes?

My small business is unable to profit from rectangles with rounded edges in a world that demands rectangles with rounded edges. I demand restitution.

I like your thinking there...

KainXS · Nov 9, 2012

de.das.dude said:
has anyone patented a pen1s? then i can patent my pen1s?

then everyone boy born will have to pay me money. i will be rich.

*troll logic*

actually I wouldn't patent the penis itself I would patent poles that extend and use that to sue every man on earth and some extra people

Inceptor · Nov 9, 2012

Sasqui said:
This makes me ill.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/dail...bsurdity-patent-system-143108743.html#more-id

It costs less time and money for them to just approve a patent like this and have it fought out in the law courts, than it does to actually do the analytical work necessary in the patent office...
But then again, some patents are so absurd that they must, at least sometimes, just blindly approve some.

micropage7 · Nov 9, 2012

they should not approve it coz the shape is generic, i mean rectangle with rounded corners has been used for long time not only in electronic stuff so it shouldnt be patented

DannibusX · Nov 9, 2012

Design patents are nothing new. Nearly every company in the world uses or should use them, since they are supposed to keep people from knocking off products. Normally it's a good thing.

The Xbox, PlayStation, etc all have design patents issued.

The unique and disturbing thing about the iPad design patent is the generic shape. It just doesn't fit into the scope of what a patent is designed for. It's far too generic.

Binge · Nov 9, 2012

micropage7 said:
they should not approve it coz the shape is generic, i mean rectangle with rounded corners has been used for long time not only in electronic stuff so it shouldnt be patented

People, regular people, should sue. If there's a lawsuit that starts up or wants to start up I'm on board. This is a concept to work against the interests of free enterprise and consumers.

Drone · Dec 20, 2012

Apple "pinch-to-zoom" patent deemed invalid

DannibusX · Dec 20, 2012

That'll get Judge Koh to lower some of the damages against Samsung. Just a few more patents are needed to be sniped.

the54thvoid · Dec 20, 2012

The USPTO really needs to get a grip. It's their lax patents that lead to all the legal shite. Pretty sure these wouldn't be passed in the UK. Wow, I didn't even bitch about Apple there!

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Apple’s New iPad Patent Reveals The Absurdity Of Our Patent System

Sasqui

Frick

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de.das.dude

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Sasqui

temp02

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Sasqui

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