Hello again,
take a look if you'd like to read more in depth about this article: http://gigaom.com/2013/03/27/apple-ensnared-in-chinese-patent-fight-over-siri/.
Yes, once again, we'll be talking about Apple vs Someone-else.
Although this time, it's a Chinese company called Xiaoi that is suing them. Over Siri.
The foreigner: Xiaoi
Their product: automated chat robot for Customer Service/hotlines
The argument: "Siri infringes on OUR patents."
When they got their patent: 2006
When Siri appeared in Apple phones: 2011
As most of us know, Siri was a technology that Apple acquired, and Xiaoi's problem is the robot interaction part of Siri, not the speech recognition capabilities.
Not that much information is out yet, but I think it's funny how these things come to pop up many years after the fact.
In your opinion, is Xiaoi way out of line? Did Apple really infringe on their patent? Let me know below!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Post 15: Google donates patents to protect cloud software from lawsuits
Hello all, here'd my article for reference: http://gigaom.com/2013/03/28/google-donates-patents-to-protect-cloud-software-from-lawsuits/
Somewhat big news! Google is creating what is called a "patent pledge", to attempt to stop patent wars on the cloud and big data developers like those in the mobile industry. This pledge includes 10 patents that are related to their MapReduce technology, which is what their search system is based off.
What this pledge does:
Allows developers to freely use/sell tech using these patents without fearing for lawsuits. The catch is that only projects that are open source, that is that anyone can access them, are allowed to take advantage of this pledge.
Google's aim:
Allow open-software so people can build off of each others work. To me, this seems like an open invitation to collaboration and new tech developments.
Interesting idea:
MapReduce covered a form of parallel processing which is powerful and allows multiples things to be done at the same time, that is, "in parallel." A lot of people were afraid that their patent on the Hadoop tool was going to be too much, but this patent is actually included in the 10, so many of these fears are now assuaged.
What do you think of this move by Google? Good or Bad? Is this even possible or is it too naive? Let me know in the comments below!
Somewhat big news! Google is creating what is called a "patent pledge", to attempt to stop patent wars on the cloud and big data developers like those in the mobile industry. This pledge includes 10 patents that are related to their MapReduce technology, which is what their search system is based off.
What this pledge does:
Allows developers to freely use/sell tech using these patents without fearing for lawsuits. The catch is that only projects that are open source, that is that anyone can access them, are allowed to take advantage of this pledge.
Google's aim:
Allow open-software so people can build off of each others work. To me, this seems like an open invitation to collaboration and new tech developments.
Interesting idea:
MapReduce covered a form of parallel processing which is powerful and allows multiples things to be done at the same time, that is, "in parallel." A lot of people were afraid that their patent on the Hadoop tool was going to be too much, but this patent is actually included in the 10, so many of these fears are now assuaged.
What do you think of this move by Google? Good or Bad? Is this even possible or is it too naive? Let me know in the comments below!
Friday, March 22, 2013
Post 14: Apple's Thermonuclear Patent War Is A Farce
For your viewing pleasure: http://readwrite.com/2012/12/08/apples-thermonuclear-patent-war-is-a-farce
Extra Extra! Apple's "Steve Jobs patent" is now invalid, as declared by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. If you don't know what this patent is, it's a multi-touch screen patent.
For for anti-apple people, ya'll must be celebrating for now haha.
Apparently, this patent was a sham from the start. But here is now a list of some of Apple's losses, in case you haven't heard of them:
England court ordered Apple to have ads that explained Samsung didn't copy them. ads
But they didn't do it right, so the courts made them do it again. again
Even the big Cali case they won might be overturned since the jury made so many mistakes during the trial.
Actually I'd want to keep going but the article is pretty biased. (against Apple) The author claims that
"Apple is using lawyers and courtrooms to do two things:
Extra Extra! Apple's "Steve Jobs patent" is now invalid, as declared by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. If you don't know what this patent is, it's a multi-touch screen patent.
For for anti-apple people, ya'll must be celebrating for now haha.
Apparently, this patent was a sham from the start. But here is now a list of some of Apple's losses, in case you haven't heard of them:
England court ordered Apple to have ads that explained Samsung didn't copy them. ads
But they didn't do it right, so the courts made them do it again. again
Even the big Cali case they won might be overturned since the jury made so many mistakes during the trial.
Actually I'd want to keep going but the article is pretty biased. (against Apple) The author claims that
"Apple is using lawyers and courtrooms to do two things:
First, Apple is using lawsuits as a form of marketing, a way to generate headlines and smear rivals as copycats, while depicting Apple -- pure, noble Apple -- as the font of knowledge from which all innovation flows.
Second, Apple figures it can outspend its rivals and beat them into submission with bogus claims, tie them up with expensive litigation and distract them.
This is not what courts are for. Nor is it what patents are for. This is despicable behavior."
Ouch.
One (maybe) factual piece of info stands:
Android occupies 75% of the market share now. That's gotta be some troubling news for Apple.
What do you guys think of Apple? Good guy, bad guy? Let me know below!
On a side note, I may never get a job at Apple after all these posts lol.
Post 13: Google patent shows laser keyboard for Glass
Here's the article if you'd like more information: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/google-patent-shows-laser-keyboard-glass-1B8024451
Here's a diagram that explains a bit more:
New patent claim by Google:
Laser projector keyboard
This supposedly can project onto any nearby surface, even a user's hand.
This projection is most likely to be some kind of menu for user's to interact with and choose options.
But hmmmm...doesn't these seem familiar? If not, here's a hint, Microsoft's kinect! Yes over a year ago, Microsoft showed something very similar to this. What's special about Google's claim then?
Google claims that by putting this on a pair of glasses, it's entirely different, and the project actually keeps tract of the user's head and body movements to make everything smooth.
What do you think about the claim by Google? Yay or nay? Let me know below!
Here's a diagram that explains a bit more:
New patent claim by Google:
Laser projector keyboard
This supposedly can project onto any nearby surface, even a user's hand.
This projection is most likely to be some kind of menu for user's to interact with and choose options.
But hmmmm...doesn't these seem familiar? If not, here's a hint, Microsoft's kinect! Yes over a year ago, Microsoft showed something very similar to this. What's special about Google's claim then?
Google claims that by putting this on a pair of glasses, it's entirely different, and the project actually keeps tract of the user's head and body movements to make everything smooth.
What do you think about the claim by Google? Yay or nay? Let me know below!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Post 12: 2012: A year of patents, mobile fights, and one big IPO
It's already March in 2013, so before it's too late why not have a recap of some of the biggest tech news from 2012? Here's the article I'm reading if you'd like more info on these things!
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-57559873-235/2012-a-year-of-patents-mobile-fights-and-one-big-ipo/
2012 marks the year where more patent litigations were brought up than ever before. Even bigger than Facebook's IPO or Microsoft's release of Windows 8, patent wars were the biggest news scene to date last year.
The article suggest that patent wars grew tremendously due to the fact that people finally understand what patents are and how to cheap the system. From trolls to battles over rounded corners, some patent wars were downright ridiculous. But they still won.
Some of the big 3 in tech, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and now even Facebook were gathering and acquiring smaller companies and competitors like mad.
So we've come to standstill in regards to changing technology. "Imitation is how the the tech industry works." I wholeheartedly agree with this, imitation and then iteration is what makes tech better and better, and allows for more discoveries and improvements. So with all the new patent issues coming up, the standstill of some technology seems imminent. Yet let's not make all the big companies into the bad guys. They get their fair share of attacks from other smaller companies as well.
Let's take a look into one of better known patent wars. Samsung vs Apple. Regardless of which side your own, we all know Apple has great presence in the market for mobile phones. But if you've been looking at the trends, you might notice that Samsung is ahead in leadership for phone sales. They actually control 29% of the cellphone market and 28% of the smartphone market. Apple had only 20% and 10% respectively. Knowing this, it seems like Apple's war in the courtroom is more like trying to take back their stake, rather than filing for patents willy nilly because they feel like it.
Does this change anyone's mind about who's side their on? Let me know!
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-57559873-235/2012-a-year-of-patents-mobile-fights-and-one-big-ipo/
2012 marks the year where more patent litigations were brought up than ever before. Even bigger than Facebook's IPO or Microsoft's release of Windows 8, patent wars were the biggest news scene to date last year.
The article suggest that patent wars grew tremendously due to the fact that people finally understand what patents are and how to cheap the system. From trolls to battles over rounded corners, some patent wars were downright ridiculous. But they still won.
Some of the big 3 in tech, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and now even Facebook were gathering and acquiring smaller companies and competitors like mad.
So we've come to standstill in regards to changing technology. "Imitation is how the the tech industry works." I wholeheartedly agree with this, imitation and then iteration is what makes tech better and better, and allows for more discoveries and improvements. So with all the new patent issues coming up, the standstill of some technology seems imminent. Yet let's not make all the big companies into the bad guys. They get their fair share of attacks from other smaller companies as well.
Let's take a look into one of better known patent wars. Samsung vs Apple. Regardless of which side your own, we all know Apple has great presence in the market for mobile phones. But if you've been looking at the trends, you might notice that Samsung is ahead in leadership for phone sales. They actually control 29% of the cellphone market and 28% of the smartphone market. Apple had only 20% and 10% respectively. Knowing this, it seems like Apple's war in the courtroom is more like trying to take back their stake, rather than filing for patents willy nilly because they feel like it.
Does this change anyone's mind about who's side their on? Let me know!
Post 11: Nikola Tesla vs Thomas Edison
When we're in grade school we learn about American history and how Edison was the one who invested the light bulb with his key + kite combo. We rarely hear the name of Tesla, even though in actuality he was responsible for the majority of electricity's innovations.
We have many laws and regulations regarding patents now, but back then perhaps this was not as closely followed. To enlighten you on a few things Tesla's done, this comic by The Oatmeal does a pretty great job.
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla
If you're too lazy to click that link, (it's pretty long), let me summarize it for you:
Tesla invented AC current, which uses thin wires and high voltage to transfer electricity over long distances.
Tesla also created the backbone for Radio to develop, a nobel prize that was won by Marconi for using Tesla's work.
Tesla pitched the idea of Sonar to the US Navy in WWI, but the idea was ignored and not taken into effect until Watson-Watt was credited with it's discovery 18 years later.
Tesla also discovered X-rays, the first Hydroelectric pump at Niagara Falls, cryogenic engineering, patented the transistor, record radio waves from outer space, discovered the resonance frequency of the earth, build an earthquake machine, remote controls, electric moters, and wireless communication.
In short, he's a boss.
To me it's a pretty sad that his inventions were not accepted at the time he discovered them, but only many years later when someone picked up from where he had left off. It seems like Tesla was simply just too ahead of his time.
PS. Here's a funny YouTube video of a epic rap battle between Tesla and Edison:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ1Mz7kGVf0
We have many laws and regulations regarding patents now, but back then perhaps this was not as closely followed. To enlighten you on a few things Tesla's done, this comic by The Oatmeal does a pretty great job.
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla
If you're too lazy to click that link, (it's pretty long), let me summarize it for you:
Tesla invented AC current, which uses thin wires and high voltage to transfer electricity over long distances.
Tesla also created the backbone for Radio to develop, a nobel prize that was won by Marconi for using Tesla's work.
Tesla pitched the idea of Sonar to the US Navy in WWI, but the idea was ignored and not taken into effect until Watson-Watt was credited with it's discovery 18 years later.
Tesla also discovered X-rays, the first Hydroelectric pump at Niagara Falls, cryogenic engineering, patented the transistor, record radio waves from outer space, discovered the resonance frequency of the earth, build an earthquake machine, remote controls, electric moters, and wireless communication.
In short, he's a boss.
To me it's a pretty sad that his inventions were not accepted at the time he discovered them, but only many years later when someone picked up from where he had left off. It seems like Tesla was simply just too ahead of his time.
PS. Here's a funny YouTube video of a epic rap battle between Tesla and Edison:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ1Mz7kGVf0
Friday, March 8, 2013
Post 10: Obama says patent trolls “hijack” and “extort;” So do something, Mr. President
Some good news: http://gigaom.com/2013/02/16/obama-says-patent-trolls-hijack-and-extort-so-do-something-mr-president/
Even the President has noticed and responded about the existence of Patent Trolls. His words:
“The folks that you’re talking about are a classic example; they don’t actually produce anything themselves. They’re just trying to essentially leverage and hijack somebody else’s idea and see if they can extort some money out of them.”
This is great news because there might be some very soon to come changes in the patent world, especially if Obama decides to get involved. A few things he could do:
1. Some industries have actually blocked some previous patent reform efforts, so he'll need to stop monopolies. For tech though, there is often not as much of this issue, because first-mover advantages result in quite a large advantage for them, and because tech moves super fast.
2. To address trolls, he may need to change the pattent fee structure, so that hoarders have less incentive to hold onto patents. Obama could potentially be involved with this directly and he can also try to reduce jury verdict to below the billion dollar mark.
3. He could increase the attention on huge patent trolls, and maybe have a start-up tax. Politically that's already tough, but there shouldn't be a reason that private companies can avoid taxes like these.
What do you think Obama should do?
Even the President has noticed and responded about the existence of Patent Trolls. His words:
“The folks that you’re talking about are a classic example; they don’t actually produce anything themselves. They’re just trying to essentially leverage and hijack somebody else’s idea and see if they can extort some money out of them.”
This is great news because there might be some very soon to come changes in the patent world, especially if Obama decides to get involved. A few things he could do:
1. Some industries have actually blocked some previous patent reform efforts, so he'll need to stop monopolies. For tech though, there is often not as much of this issue, because first-mover advantages result in quite a large advantage for them, and because tech moves super fast.
2. To address trolls, he may need to change the pattent fee structure, so that hoarders have less incentive to hold onto patents. Obama could potentially be involved with this directly and he can also try to reduce jury verdict to below the billion dollar mark.
3. He could increase the attention on huge patent trolls, and maybe have a start-up tax. Politically that's already tough, but there shouldn't be a reason that private companies can avoid taxes like these.
What do you think Obama should do?
Post 9: Tech firms launch new website to fix patent mess
Do you think the Patent Law system in the US is broken? These people certainly think so, and now they're created a new site to help fix and regulate things : http://gigaom.com/2012/11/14/tech-firms-launch-new-website-to-fix-patent-mess/
Patent Progress is supposed to bring people's attention to the patent problem and to give solutions from people in legal and policy positions. Contributers on the advice side are people in leading intellectual property, lawyers, and scholars. The site is composed of a group that has bases in Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Facebook.
The site has a dictionary of terms for people to look up, like patent trolls, and they explain many of the topics that a majority of people probably don't understand. I believe that this site will provide a great place for people to educate themselves on the patent issues we're facing today.
What do you think of this idea? Do you think it will work?
Patent Progress is supposed to bring people's attention to the patent problem and to give solutions from people in legal and policy positions. Contributers on the advice side are people in leading intellectual property, lawyers, and scholars. The site is composed of a group that has bases in Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Facebook.
The site has a dictionary of terms for people to look up, like patent trolls, and they explain many of the topics that a majority of people probably don't understand. I believe that this site will provide a great place for people to educate themselves on the patent issues we're facing today.
What do you think of this idea? Do you think it will work?
Friday, March 1, 2013
Post 8: IBM: We’re number one (in patents)
Hello!
This is less about a patent more but I thought it would be interesting to note which companies have the most patents. http://gigaom.com/2013/01/10/ibm-were-number-one-in-patents/
Surprised? It's IBM! (I was.)
Interestingly enough, Google and Apple were both noted to have gained massive amounts of patents, but they still didn't break the top 10 companies. Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen:
I was very surprised to see that a lot of the top patent carriers are International companies.
The article notes a very interesting idea:
"Patent ownership represents more than just bragging rights. Increasingly tech companies rush to amass patents to protect themselves from infringement lawsuits and to wage legal war on competitors. Complicating matters are the “patent trolls” – companies that buy patents to assemble a legal arsenal to go after alleged infringers but don’t actually create technology. "
In any case, if you want to perhaps figure out where to look in future posts for patent issues, you may want to follow these companies!
Post 7: Apple smart watch efforts confirmed by US patent
Helloooo
So I read this article on apple's new smart watch: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21547947.
The article goes into the design and patent issues. This is supposed to be a flexible touch-screen (cool right?) and there's apparently a huge "need" for this item. If you can't imagine what it's supposed to look like, read this:
"The mooted device is likened to a "slap wrap" - a thin strip of metal covered in fabric which snapped around the user's wrist to form a bracelet."
They've just filed for a patent on this, but there might be issues coming up because a lot of tech watch companies are also working in this field. It's a weird mesh because the watch companies obviously have been working with these products for a long time and are developing similar things. Apple on the other hand is a giant tech firm who could supply the software and hardware side of it.
Nothing's happened yet, but if you like watches, maybe you should consider following this story to see where it leads.
So I read this article on apple's new smart watch: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21547947.
The article goes into the design and patent issues. This is supposed to be a flexible touch-screen (cool right?) and there's apparently a huge "need" for this item. If you can't imagine what it's supposed to look like, read this:
"The mooted device is likened to a "slap wrap" - a thin strip of metal covered in fabric which snapped around the user's wrist to form a bracelet."
They've just filed for a patent on this, but there might be issues coming up because a lot of tech watch companies are also working in this field. It's a weird mesh because the watch companies obviously have been working with these products for a long time and are developing similar things. Apple on the other hand is a giant tech firm who could supply the software and hardware side of it.
Nothing's happened yet, but if you like watches, maybe you should consider following this story to see where it leads.
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