allan: Hang on a minute, my old Windows Mobile 6.5 phone uses a gesture to unlock the screen. Admittedly it is at the top of the screen, not the bottom

regs: this is a perfectly reasonable patent application, not frivilous at all. they invented a really useful *new* way to do something, and patented it. Why wouldnt they patent it?

Regs: this is a perfectly reasonable patent application, not frivilous at all. they invented a really useful *new* way to do something, and patented it. Why wouldnt they patent it?

If every idea and market differentiator you had could be ripped off by companies who dont spend on R&D, why would you spend money on these things?


P.s. I *don't* own an iphone, ipad _or_ apple device of any sort. So i'm not providing this opinion as a fanboy...

Regs: ok, the hardware slide to unlock doesnt really count. for one its not a fingertip gesture on a touch screen. if you want to put an actual chain on your android or windows mobile phone, go for it :)

as for the "prior art", i havent seen any examples that pre-date apples patent?

the windows mobile one was well after that, and even after the iphone.

Regs: as for the "prior art", i havent seen any examples that pre-date apples patent?

the windows mobile one was well after that, and even after the iphone.

Regs: 

If every idea and market differentiator you had could be ripped off by companies who dont spend on R&D, why would you spend money on these things?

tdgeek: 

Firstly, this is patent law. if you need to go after someone, go after the lawmakers, i.e, the Parliaments.

tdgeek: 

Secondly, Google is paying Microsoft and another player (can't recall who), what will be $5 to $15 per handset for patent use. No big news article on that or big issues in the forum media. Why go after Apple? Its a law, so take it up with the lawmakers.

tdgeek: 

Thirdly, patents are there to protect the creator of the "specific" intellectual law that relates to what they invented, or created. Thats fair. For a period. If Google had implementetd 3 patents, that were then used by the Apples or Microsofts of this world, would you still have the same argument, that is "thats bad, ban patents"???? I think not.

tdgeek: 

All this will come out in the wash, at some point, probably sooner that later, it will be resolved, royalties will be paid for a limited period for these design issues then it will be free. Smartphone and handheld technology is going through a growth spurt, that will soon mature. Apple was first into the modern consumer market, and Android has been more than a worthy rival, both of which will be joined by Microsoft. What that tells me, is that us consumers will benefit by the competition for the smartphone OS dollar.