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| Apple patents laptop wedge shape |
| By Thom Holwerda on 2012-06-07 21:23:26 |
| So, the next venue of patent trolling has just been opened. Apple has patented - quite specifically - the wedge shape of the MacBook Air. Not the general design or impression, no - just the wedge shape. This is interesting, because that wedge shape? Hit prior art in 3.2 seconds: the Vaio x505 from 2004. A wedge-shaped, superthin (for its day) laptop - exactly what Apple's design patent claims the company has invented. |
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| Whatever happened to the Vaios? |
| By vaette on 2012-06-07 21:31:47 |
|
Don't have the time at the moment to look through the patent, and one really should before commenting. These summaries are often misleading. This however raised another question for me. What happened to Sony? They had those ultrathin and ridiculously desirable Vaios for so many years, why aren't they at the top of the heap of the ultrabooks? The only thing they didn't already do a decade ago was the price. Was it just greed that cost them this market? Something else? Edited 2012-06-07 21:33 UTC |
 - Score: 1 |
| Comment by smashIt |
| By smashIt on 2012-06-07 22:05:40 |
| i could be wrong, but didn't the psion netbook have a wedge-like profile? |
| - Score: 3 |
| Utility Patent |
| By umccullough on 2012-06-07 22:09:01 |
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Obviously, it doubles as a cooking utensil: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video... |
| - Score: 3 |
| USA uncompetitive |
| By project_2501 on 2012-06-07 22:25:09 |
|
The original point of patent protection was to incentivise innovation. To ultimately make the USA an attractive place for business and economic growth. What we have now is the patent system abused - allowed to be abused by an incompetent patent office - which is stifling innovation and making the USA increasingly unattractive for businesses. If this continues at the crazy pace this is - the USA will become unattractive, prhibitive for business. At that point the USA will initiate change but probably not before. It'll be the point when US citizen look beyond their borders and see more innovation, choice and economic activity in other countries which have a more sensible approach to patents. They'll look at their own and and realise that an economy of a few super-patent-laden monopolies is not giving them what they thought they deserved as US citizens. |
| - Score: 9 |
| Maybe... |
| By thavith_osn on 2012-06-07 23:17:08 |
|
...Apple just need to "try this on" to protect them against people suing them in the days ahead. I know Apple has a history of going after people, don't get me wrong, but they also get taken to court as much as anyone else too, so sometimes buying protective clothing is a good idea. However, on the surface, without delving too deep into the reasons, I'd say this was a crazy move. Maybe the guy in charge of patents at Apple needs to keep his job, so keeps patenting anything that moves? |
| - Score: 1 |
| Comment by ilovebeer |
| By ilovebeer on 2012-06-07 23:20:11 |
| Isn't there more interesting or important news to report than more of this obsessive posting about "patent trolling"? I swear there's more whining about that on here than anything... At least it certainly seems that way. |
| - Score: 1 |
| RE: Comment by smashIt |
| By M.Onty on 2012-06-07 23:58:48 |
| I'm staring at one, and its more of a lump shape. A nice lump. |
| - Score: 1 |
| The "wedge shape"? |
| By smilie on 2012-06-08 00:11:17 |
| Of any computer or electronics? I seem to recall a wedge shaped computer in the 1980s. I know there was a wedge shaped stereo system component in the late 1970s. |
| - Score: 4 |
| Disco Institute |
| By kwan_e on 2012-06-08 00:49:45 |
| So Apple are the people behind the Disco Institute! It all makes sense now. |
| - Score: 5 |
| Not the only prior art |
| By Lorin on 2012-06-08 00:52:04 |
| There are many different computers in the Chinese markets from companies like Sony, Toshiba, Asus and some local stock which has a wedge design. Gather up the evidence to aid whoever Apple tries to extort from next. |
| - Score: 2 |
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