Apple scores a patent for curved touch surfaces

[Dungeoneer]

I remember a time when all touch screens were curved.

It's also interesting to note that LG and Samsung both have curved phones planned for release. It will be interesting to see if they have a different enough design to avoid patent trolling from Apple.

Samsung and LG already released the Samsung Round and the G Flex, respectively, in the fall.

I haven't read the Apple patent but unless it's more specific than 'curved touch screen' they're going to have quite a hill to climb with prior art.

At any rate, the first two curved phones have not met with great reviews. Samsung has announced that the next Galaxy phone will NOT have a curved screen. It's not hard to see why. A curved phone won't lie flat on a level surface. Anything more than the most minimal curve and it won't fit comfortably in your pocket, either.

 

[Homicidal_Squirrel]

Anything more than the most minimal curve and it won't fit comfortably in your pocket, either.

Really? I heard that the phones would be more comfortable in your back pocket if they were curved. I haven't used any of the curved phones, or seen anyone with it, but I can't imagine that it would be so uncomfortable unless the curve is really pronounced.

 

[Fast Learner]

Samsung and LG already released the Samsung Round and the G Flex, respectively, in the fall.

I haven't read the Apple patent but unless it's more specific than 'curved touch screen' they're going to have quite a hill to climb with prior art.

The patent is, as patents are supposed to be, quite specific. Hard to say whether it overlaps Samsung's and LG's products. That said, this Apple patent is from 2010, so who knows, perhaps the patent comes before the products.

 

[Ahnehnois]

That's terrible. They end up getting a patent and then don't do anything with it, and actually stop other companies from doing something interesting with it. I hate when companies pull that bs.

Not the company's fault. Even if they are patenting for defensive reasons, that's kind of inherent to the notion of patent law. Intellectual property is a weird area, and there are a lot of fundamental and inherent problems with the notion of being able to patent something.

 

[Homicidal_Squirrel]

Not the company's fault. Even if they are patenting for defensive reasons, that's kind of inherent to the notion of patent law. Intellectual property is a weird area, and there are a lot of fundamental and inherent problems with the notion of being able to patent something.

Yeah, and unfortunately it's not likely to change. So we get the garbage products that come these companies design to maximize their profits with minimal improvements.

 

[gamerprinter]

That's terrible. They end up getting a patent and then don't do anything with it, and actually stop other companies from doing something interesting with it. I hate when companies pull that bs.

Heck, I know a company that wanted to develop a 'search engine' that let's you use zip code for search parameters (yeah, I know this mechanism is common for lots of websites), and the patent lawyers suggested getting a patent for the zip code search function, since nobody ever got a patent for that. The company received the patent, then didn't pursue the website that used the patent search function. Instead, the patent is used to sue other companies that use this patented search method, eventually to be used to sue the big companies like Google. So now this company exists making lots of money from law suits only...

 

[Homicidal_Squirrel]

Heck, I know a company that wanted to develop a 'search engine' that let's you use zip code for search parameters (yeah, I know this mechanism is common for lots of websites), and the patent lawyers suggested getting a patent for the zip code search function, since nobody ever got a patent for that. The company received the patent, then didn't pursue the website that used the patent search function. Instead, the patent is used to sue other companies that use this patented search method, eventually to be used to sue the big companies like Google. So now this company exists making lots of money from law suits only...

Some times I think I wasted a lot of time going to school. I should just have patented something and sued people.

 

[Kramodlog]

Some times I think I wasted a lot of time going to school. I should just have patented something and sued people.

That is my idea, I'm suing you!

 

[Homicidal_Squirrel]

That is my idea, I'm suing you!

Unfortunately, you didn't patent is. Now I'm suing you!

 

[Kramodlog]

I have no money. Ah!