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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."


by MacNN Staff

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  1. bobthenob

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2004

    0
    08/09, 03:31pm | report spam | Reply |

    ummm...

    whoops.

  1. - - e r i k - -

    Posting Junkie

    Joined: May 2001

    0
    08/09, 04:13pm | report spam | Reply |

    s***

    Without interface-protection the iPod could be f*cked.

  1. mitchcohen

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2005

    0
    08/09, 04:24pm | report spam | Reply |

    Microsoft's John Platt??

    I suspect the John Platt that owns the patent is . Which could mean Apple is now violating a Microsoft patent. Serious oops!

  1. mitchcohen

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2005

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    08/09, 04:34pm | report spam | Reply |

    Microsoft's John Platt U

    Looks like the site strips URLs in brackets. Here's the link to Microsoft's John Platt:

    http://research.microsoft.com/%7Ejplatt/

  1. porieux

    Baninated

    Joined: Mar 2001

    0
    08/09, 04:37pm | report spam | Reply |

    i would say

    industrial espionage at work

  1. Peter Bonte

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0
    08/09, 05:18pm | report spam | Reply |

    i don't get it

    The iPod was for sale well before May 2002, what's the deal?

  1. mishakim

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Oct 2000

    0
    08/09, 06:22pm | report spam | Reply |

    there is no spoon

    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.

  1. JohnnyFive

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2003

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    08/09, 07:44pm | report spam | Reply |

    No surprise.

    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)?

  1. zzimbob

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2003

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    08/09, 08:37pm | report spam | Reply |

    Misleading Article Title

    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.

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