This is a discussion thread for the "Thoughts on the Apple vs. Samsung Verdict" story posted on the front page. Note from author/_JKK_: Be sure to read before commenting.
Think...Stifle innovation I am not a Samsung fan, but really. There are only so many ways to design a phone at this point. The fact that we have gotten to the point where we are actually patenting how a screen bounces back is getting ludicrous. The problem I have with Apple is that they sue everyone, not to protect intellectual property, but to wipe out competition, and innovation. Eventually there will be one phone for everyone in the world. It will be the Apple phone, and it will stagnate because there is no competition to force REAL INNOVATION. ..Waiting for the letter from Apple informing me I am being sued for using the word "Apple" without paying royalties.
I think that major things like the layout of the homescreen and the look of the icons should be able to have a patent, but such frivolous things as "Slide to Unlock" and that storage system they have should not be patentable. It's like patenting the wheel. Every other vehicle on earth must pay me to use this novel idea or you must use different methods of moving your vehicles. You can use squares, after all.
I disagree on the "Slide to Unlock" thing. Microsoft came up with a new method in Windows Phone 7 and I like it - almost more than iOS. Which is my point, patents lead to new ways of doing things.
I agree with that. Rules need to be set in place to make sure that people can make something without a clone of their product appearing somewhere else.
For the wheel example... Imagine someone came up with the wheel today in 2012 and filed for a patent for it. They would be awarded the patent and could use the wheel on whatever they choose. No one else could use it unless they paid for a license to use it. But in 7 years (or 9?? I think thats how long patents are valid for) then anyone could use the wheel for anything. And in that period someone would try and make something better than the wheel (hard to top the wheel but there are always alternate ways such as a belt of some sort), but if no one could top the wheel after years of trying to innovate than they would have to license or wait for it to expire. Same thing happening here, someone else will have to make an alternative or license it from Apple, nothing blocking innovation, its actually encouraging it. Apple is pretty much saying that they made this idea, you can't use it too, and go make your own great idea.
I don't want to sound like an Apple FanBoy (bc I'm not), but if Samsung infringed patents, it would only be logical that they should be held accountable...
