New Apple Patent is Proof Positive that the USPTO Does Not Know What They Are Doing

[dgstorm]

If this next bit of news doesn't get you disgusted at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the general state of the Patent System in the U.S., then you may just be too calloused by all the negative patent news we have had for the last three years. (We wouldn't blame you) Still, regardless of your relative level of outrage regarding this story, we thought it was worth reporting that Apple has just been granted what could be the most damaging and powerful smartphone patent of them all. In fact, the folks at Phandroid called it, " the mother of all smartphone software patents," and it could potentially be abused by Apple to lock out practically every other smartphone in existence.

This new patent (No. 8,223,134) basically covers the graphical user interfaces Apple designed for blogging, email, telephone, camera, video player, calendar, browser, widgets, search, notes, maps and other multi-touch interfaces. The patent's scope is so broad that it could be the "thermonuclear" weapon that Apple might finally launch against their competitors. In fact, the patent is so vague and all-encompassing it could potentially allow Apple to go after developers of apps and other smartphone platforms.

Despite how horrifying this news could potentially be, perhaps it is a blessing in disguise. If Apple does decide to "push the button" on this doomsday device, it might be the final straw that will draw enough attention to just how trashed the U.S. Patent system has become. In fact, Apple may even foresee this and it may cause them to hesitate to use it. What do you think will happen?

Source: Phandroid

[Mujibar]

Sonuva....

~ GNexified ~

[Ollie]

The tide is turning. Apple must now run ads in England that state the Samsung 10.1 didn't copy the iPad.

This patent is too vague to stand.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[Jeffrey]

Vague, yes.. bottom line it should have never been granted.

[Quicksilver7714]

WTF!!!!!

What the hell is going on in the US patent office office. These guys must be getting a huge payoff for passing these patents.

If Apple cripples the Smartphone, with exception to its own crippled design I will either move out of the US, probably not going to happen, or go back to a basic phone. This is just idiotic.

It's a good thing there is not a global patent office or we would all be screwed.

And when did apple get widgets? Because I'm pretty sure Android had widgets way before the iPhone did.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Eric]

And when did apple get widgets? Because I'm pretty sure Android had widgets way before the iPhone did.

apple had dashboard widgets long ago....
(just a quick google search)
10.4: Open the Dashboard bar via keyboard shortcut - Mac OS X Hints

dont get me wrong, i dont like how apple is setting up for the ultimate monopoly!!!!

[cybertec69]

Apple has seen that the tide is turning, and since they have been litigating instead of innovating, this is just another desperate move by Apple to slow or TRY to stop the competition, yea good luck, that will NEVER happen, and this patent will be thrown out by the highest courts in no time.