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Apple fails to patent iPod interface
updated 03:00 pm EDT, Tue August 9, 2005
iPod UI patent rejected
Apple has failed to , following three-year-long patent application process, which could allow its competitor to build similar-style GUIs for their own MP3 players. AppleInsider reports that the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a final rejection for Apple's patent application, which lists Apple vice president Jeff Robbin and Apple chief executive Steve Jobs as two of its primary inventors. "Standing in Apple's way appears to be a prior filing by inventor John Platt, who submitted a patent application for a similar software design for a portable device in May of 2002 -- just five months before Robbin submitted his claims on behalf of Apple."
ummm...
08/09, 03:31pm reply
whoops.
bobthenob
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2004
s***
08/09, 04:13pm reply
Without interface-protection the iPod could be f*cked.
- - e r i k - -
Posting Junkie
Joined: May 2001
Microsoft's John Platt??
08/09, 04:24pm reply
I suspect the John Platt that owns the patent is . Which could mean Apple is now violating a Microsoft patent. Serious oops!
mitchcohen
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2005
Microsoft's John Platt U
08/09, 04:34pm reply
Looks like the site strips URLs in brackets. Here's the link to Microsoft's John Platt:
http://research.microsoft.com/%7Ejplatt/
mitchcohen
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2005
i would say
08/09, 04:37pm reply
industrial espionage at work
porieux
Baninated
Joined: Mar 2001
i don't get it
08/09, 05:18pm reply
The iPod was for sale well before May 2002, what's the deal?
Peter Bonte
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
there is no spoon
08/09, 06:22pm reply
note that a "final rejection" is in no way final, it just changes which form you use to keep the application alive. Apple can continue the application process (i.e. arguing with the PTO examiner) or appeal to the PTO board of appeals. Then there are appeals to the federal courts.
mishakim
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2000
No surprise.
08/09, 07:44pm reply
John Platt used to work for Synaptics. Although I'm wondering if Synaptics has a say in this, or perhaps a counter patent application (if such a thing exists)?
JohnnyFive
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2003
Misleading Article Title
08/09, 08:37pm reply
The article title leads you to believe that Apple sat there and did nothing. Where's the editor???
Anyway, even if the patent is eventually denied, I don't predict any doom & gloom.
zzimbob
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2003