07.15.12
Gemini version available ♊︎Apple Sued by Trolls, Sues Practising Companies Rather Than Trolls, Blocks Android Sales
Guarding a cult
Summary: A criticism of Apple’s approach to patents and litigation
APPLE is being sued for patent violations again, in a lawsuit that we covered here before. To quote an article about it, “Chinese company claims Apple’s Siri technology infringes on a patent for software providing a similar service.”
“Satires arrive in this age where Apple is itself a patent aggressor, suffering a Hubris conflict.”Apple, instead of suing patent aggressors and trolls (it cannot), is suing practising companies for producing original gadgets that it wants the world to believe Steve Jobs ‘invented’.
Apple continues to amass patents (new example) even though these cannot be used to defend from patent trolls. All that Apple can do with those is sue competitors, or at least intimidate them. This is not innovation, it’s the exact opposite; it is the prevention of innovation coming to the market. Satires arrive in this age where Apple is itself a patent aggressor, suffering a Hubris conflict.
walterbyrd cites the article “Samsung’s request for expedited Galaxy Nexus hearing accepted, Apple groups them with “pirates, thieves and counterfeiters”,” noting that: “After the return of the Galaxy Nexus to the Play Store, we have some more good news on the Samsung vs Apple patent battle: the Korean manufacturer’s request for an expedited appeal against the preliminary injunction granted against the Galaxy Nexus has been grated. As a result, they must submit their court brief by the 16th of July to the US Court of Appeals, after which Apple has 14 days to respond. Final comments will take place on the 6th of August.”
“It is clear that Android tablets are doing well, so Apple’s action has nothing to do with “pirates, thieves and counterfeiters”; it has to do with Apple’s sheer arrogance.”But Apple is already taking it a step ahead by sending threatening letters to retailers that stock particular Android devices (there is a discussion in Slashdot about it). Here are Apple’s threats. It is clear that Android tablets are doing well, so Apple’s action has nothing to do with “pirates, thieves and counterfeiters”; it has to do with Apple’s sheer arrogance. █
“We’ve always been shameless about stealing great ideas.”
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mcinsand said,
July 15, 2012 at 5:54 am
Apple has not competed against performance before, except when it comes to offering (overpriced) reliability that Microsoft can’t, so why should it start now? Apple has always been about breaking compatibility wherever possible, pioneering restrictions such as DRM, and furthering the illegal tying between hardware and software. The cult might be happy with them, but those of us that value freedom are not.
Dr. Roy Schestowitz Reply:
July 17th, 2012 at 5:45 am
There is a massive PR campaign going for “cloud” (give your data to other companies) and also for devices with artificially-limited functionality. Those who know better will not have their hands burned.
Michael Reply:
July 17th, 2012 at 8:42 am
Are you also against ChromeOS and Ubuntu which are pushing the cloud? Heck, CromeOS has very limited functionality – it is largely a web kiosk.
Michael said,
July 16, 2012 at 10:42 pm
Apple is amazing and making innovative products which earn the highest ratings in customer satisfaction surveys and sell very well – earning Apple boatloads of money.
With that said, they are very aggressive in protecting their IP – and I think it is find for others to be aggressive if and when Apple abuses others IP. Fair is fair.
As far as Roy’s BS about “arrogance”… he just made that up. Roy has, in the past, admitted he envies Apple and other successful companies. He should try to learn from them and not attack.