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Samsung: Australian Tab ban should be lifted

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Samsung has appealed for the Australian ban on its Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets to be overturned.<br />
Citing errors of law, Samsung's legal team has insisted that the ban over alleged patent infringement is wrongful, despite a judge agreeing that Apple's intellectual property had been infringed.<br />
The injunction was a preliminary one, but Samsung's lawyer Neil Young insisted that it was based on "irrelevant considerations".<br />
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Fight</h4>
The ban was handed down on 13 October, to the dismay of Samsung, who immediately indicated that they would fight against it.<br />
Apple believes that Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 infringes on three of its patents, and has already rejected a deal offered by Samsung over the Australian market.<br />
In the US, a judge has ruled that Apple's patents have been infringed against by Samsung, and there are also legal battles occurring in the European market.<br />
Samsung's spat with Apple is by no means the only patent dispute going on – with most of the major players involved in some kind of legal proceedings.<br />
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Samsung: Australian Tab ban should be lifted

Samsung: Australian Tab ban should be lifted

Samsung has appealed for the Australian ban on its Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets to be overturned. Citing errors of law, Samsung's...

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Apple snags MagSafe patent for iOS devices (update: it's a movable magnetic coupling)

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We've all tripped on power cords, sending laptops or other precious items tumbling to the ground. With the introduction of the MagSafe connector, back in 2006, Apple fixed the problem for clumsy MacBook owners, but has since left plugged-in iPad users up a creek. Cupertino was awarded a patent yesterday to integrate the magnetic (trip-safe) cord into future iOS devices like the iPad, potentially solving the dilemma for good. The Haus of Jobs also snagged patents for magnetic assembly and a "securing system," whatever that means.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Update:</span> Oops! While the patent does mention the possibility of integrating this technology into a "tablet computer" or "cell phone," what we're looking at isn't actually a MagSafe patent specifically for iOS devices -- it's a movable magnetic coupling.</div>
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Apple snags MagSafe patent for iOS devices (update: it's a movable magnetic coupling)

Apple snags MagSafe patent for iOS devices (update: it's a movable magnetic coupling)

We've all tripped on power cords, sending laptops or other precious items tumbling to the ground. With the introduction of the Mag...

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Samsung officially postpones Australian Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch

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Samsung originally planned to host a media event on August 11 for the Australian launch of its Galaxy Tab 10.1, but it has now officially been postponed, according to TechCrunch. Over the past couple of days, Samsung's story has changed multiple times. First it said the Galaxy Tab would launch in Australia despite Apple's patent-related complaints to Australia's Federal Court. Then, Samsung said it had no plans to launch the Galaxy Tab in Australia in the first place, and its decision had nothing to do with Apple's complaint.</div>
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The latest update on the matter seems to be a combination of all the previous takes. Samsung chooses not to classify the situation as<span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">withdrawing</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>the Galaxy Tab from sale since the launch hasn't happened yet. The company also states that the decision to postpone the Australian launch is directly tied to the current legal situation with Apple. Samsung appears to be trying to work around the patent battle by producing a specialized Australian variant of the Galaxy Tab, but the unit is still in production with no ETA for a launch, and TechCrunch speculates that launching a variant of the same product may violate the spirit of the agreement.</div>
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Samsung isn't characterizing this as an injunction against the Galaxy Tab's launch, but rather a mutual agreement between it and Apple as part of the ongoing "look and feel" patent dispute between the two companies. Another hearing on the matter is scheduled for August 29, but a final resolution to the case may take years. Meanwhile, in the United States the ITC has agreed to review the case, and the Commission has the power to impose an injunction against US imports of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 if it agrees with Apple's position.</div>
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Samsung officially postpones Australian Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch

Samsung officially postpones Australian Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch

Samsung originally planned to host a media event on August 11 for the Australian launch of its Galaxy Tab 10.1, but it has now official...

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Should Apple win current legal battles, payoff would be huge

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Bernstein's Toni Sacconaghi believes that Apple is confident it will win current legal battles with HTC and Samsung, and is therefore in for the long haul. Apple has "more to lose" than its rivals, Sacconaghi notes, and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">a whole lot</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to win.</div>
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Philip Elmer-Dewitt has highlighted the most interesting notes from Sacconaghi's statement, including:</div>
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<li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5;">We anticipate that Apple will push its legal claims hard and unrelentingly and believe that the company's key goal is to upend Android's momentum by forcing a work around on key essential features which, if successful, could have huge, positive financial implications for Apple.</li>
<li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5;">Should Apple prevail in forcing Android to rework some of its functionality, resulting in market share shifts, it could have huge, positive financial implications for Apple...a 10 percentage point shift in smartphone market share from Android to Apple...is worth an estimated $30B+ in annual revenue and $10+ in annual EPS to Apple.</li>
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That's a lot of dough. Steve Jobs has long said that Apple takes its patents seriously, which Tim Cook recently reiterated: "We have a very simple view: we love competition, but we want people to invent their own stuff. And we're going to make sure we defend our portfolio."</div>
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Should Apple win current legal battles, payoff would be huge

Should Apple win current legal battles, payoff would be huge

Bernstein's Toni Sacconaghi believes that Apple is confident it will win current legal battles with HTC and Samsung, and is therefo...

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HTC CFO says it's time to 'figure it out' with Apple

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<img alt="HTC vs. Apple" class="aligncenter" height="144" mce_src="http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/1994/htcapplephones.jpg" src="http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/1994/htcapplephones.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px auto 12px; max-width: 640px;" width="147" />HTC's CFO Winston Yung appears ready to make a deal with market rival and patent nemesis Apple. The Taiwanese company has had some rather harsh words for the Cupertino crew, and it hasn't seemed any more conciliatory after getting slapped by the ITC. That may be starting to change, as Yung told Bloomberg, "we [Apple and HTC] have to sit down and figure it out." He went on to say that the house that Sense built was open to discussions with Jobs and co. but did not venture to guess what a final agreement might look like. Of course, it's worth pointing out that this is absolutely standard practice, and we'd expect nothing less. In fact, HTC really only has two options here: plead for licensing cooperation, or go into gummy bear sales.</div>
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HTC CFO says it's time to 'figure it out' with Apple

HTC CFO says it's time to 'figure it out' with Apple

HTC's CFO Winston Yung appears ready to make a deal with market rival and patent nemesis Apple. The Taiwanese company has had some ra...

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Personal Audio sues Apple again, targets iPhone 4, iPad 2 and newer iPods

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Thought the Personal Audio / Apple brouhaha was over? Think again, because everyone's<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">favorite</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>patent licensing company is back, hitting Cupertino with another suit. You'll recall an earlier ruling by a federal jury in Eastern Texas found the CE maker guilty of infringing upon PA's playlist-related IP with an assortment of older iPods. This new filing alleges that<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">newer</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Apple devices, like the iPhone 4, iPad 2 and modern day iPods -- which weren't part of the original 2009 case -- also violate that same IP, in a move we'd surmise serves to pad Personal Audio's coffers. Not like Apple's apt to feel the pinch should Personal Audio snag another victory, but hey....</div>
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Personal Audio sues Apple again, targets iPhone 4, iPad 2 and newer iPods

Personal Audio sues Apple again, targets iPhone 4, iPad 2 and newer iPods

Thought the Personal Audio / Apple brouhaha was over? Think again, because everyone's favorite patent licensing company is back...

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Microsoft signs up Onkyo Corp for Android-based tablet patent agreement

<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="178" src="http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/419/onkyotab.png" width="324" />I don’t think that anyone is supposed that once Microsoft made its intentions to enforce patents for tech that is used inside many Android-based tablets that the Android world would start having to pony up licensing fees. The patent deals come from the licensing arrangement between Microsof t and General Dynamic Itronix. HTC had previously agreed to license the patent from Microsoft for an estimated $5 per device sold. Not long ago Velocity Micro also stepped up and licensed the patents from Microsoft as well.</p><br/><br/><br/><span> </span><br/><br/>Microsoft is on a roll with the announcement today that Onkyo has stepped up and licensed the patent tech as well. Velocity Micro has previously built and sold the TA117 tablet that landed in Japan last year. The patent agreement between Microsoft and Onkyo covers a broad range of patents for certain Onkyo tablets running Android.<br/><br/>It appears the floodgates are now open and companies are pouring in to license the patents to keep the Microsoft legal team from beating down their doors. Reports already claim Microsoft is making more from licensing these Android related patents than from Windows Phone. Talk about a case of if you can’t beat them, license them.

Microsoft signs up Onkyo Corp for Android-based tablet patent agreement

Microsoft signs up Onkyo Corp for Android-based tablet patent agreement

I don’t think that anyone is supposed that once Microsoft made its intentions to enforce patents for tech that is used inside many Android-b...

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Apple patent application reveals plans for external battery pack, spells further trouble for HyperMac

<P align=center><img alt="" border="0" hspace="4" src="/applepatent-battpack-1301680985.jpg" vspace="4"></P><br /><P>Way back in September of last year, Apple filed a patent-infringement suit against HyperMac, the folks behind these external batteries. At the time, it looked like Apple was protecting its patented MagSafe power connector, but a newly released USPTO application for a "Power Adapter with Internal Battery" might reveal a more accurate view of the company's litigious motivations. From the look of things, the outfit intends to make its mark on juicing solutions with what is basically a wall charger packing an internal battery. According to the patent filing, the contraption would include a processor for parceling energy to the host device as well as the adapter, and could also incorporate a supplemental energy source like a solar cell. Among other things, it would also communicate with the device being charged to allow users to monitor the juice stored in the extra battery. If the thing does end up making it to market, it looks like HyperMac could have a whole lot more trouble on its hands than a little patent-infringement suit.Apple patent application reveals plans for external battery pack, spells further trouble for HyperMac </P><br /><P><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/01/apple-patent-application-reveals-plans-for-external-battery-pack/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">via</A></P>

Apple patent application reveals plans for external battery pack, spells further trouble for HyperMac

Apple patent application reveals plans for external battery pack, spells further trouble for HyperMac

Way back in September of last year, Apple filed a patent-infringement suit against HyperMac, the folks behind these external batteries. At t...

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Patent points towards touchscreen Apple MacBooks

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/images/apple-integrated-touchscreen-patent.jpg-200-200.jpeg"><br /><P>Apple has been granted a new integrated touchscreen patent, pointing towards the possible development of touchscreen MacBooks.</P><br /><P>The details of the patent were unearthed by the folks over at <a href="http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/12/apple-wins-integrated-touch-screen-key-iphone-chip-patents.html">patentlyapple</A> – detailing plans for an integrated touchscreen relating to touch-sensing circuitry integrated into the display pixel stackup of a display.</P><br /><P><STRONG>20 new Apple patents</STRONG></P><br /><P>The US Patent and Trademark Office officially published a total of 20 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. this week. </P><br /><P>In addition to a number of new Apple patents relating to its photo-centric Aperture application and a key on-chip decompression engine relating to the iPhone's A4 processor, it is this 'integrated touchscreen' tech patent that is of most interest.</P><br /><P>The patent also mentions a number of end-user examples of devices that the tech relates to, including uses on mobile phones, media players and notebooks.</P><br /><P>Apple has of course not commented publicly to date on any official plans for a touchscreen MacBook, but this patent is one of the most convincing examples to date that such a device must be in development somewhere in one of its Cupertino HQ's many secret labs.</P>

Patent points towards touchscreen Apple MacBooks

Patent points towards touchscreen Apple MacBooks

Apple has been granted a new integrated touchscreen patent, pointing towards the possible development of touchscreen MacBooks. The details o...

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Apple patent application puts antenna in the logo

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<img alt="Apple antenna Logo patent" border="0" hspace="8" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2010/12/logo-antenna-apple.jpg" vspace="8" /> </div><br />
A <a href="http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/12/apple-invents-new-kind-of-logo-antenna-for-portables.html">recently discovered Apple patent</a> <a href="http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/12/apple-invents-new-kind-of-logo-antenna-for-portables.html">application</a> dated from June 2009 suggests Apple may build future devices with an antenna housed directly underneath the familiar Apple logo. The idea is genius -- the Apple logo is going to be on the iPhone or MacBook anyway, so why not stick an antenna underneath it? This internal design would bring the antenna close to the surface without increasing the risk of accidental contact from your hand or any other interfering material. Such a design could have prevented the iPhone 4 antennagate scandal that rocked Apple's world earlier this year. <br />
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According to the patent details, the logo would be made of a dielectric material that allows for the transmission and reception of radio-frequency signals. The patent applies to Wi-Fi signals as well as GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz so this technology could find its way into the MacBook as well as the iPhone. Unfortunately, Apple is not the first to apply for a patent  for an antenna-fied logo. An earlier patent from Dell describes a logo-shaped antenna that actually takes the place of the logo in the device. <br />
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This antenna technology is also not new to Apple, as a variation is already in use on the 27-inch iMac and the Apple iPad. A teardown of the iPad by iFixit uncovered the iPad's antenna which was resting directly underneath the Apple logo. A similar iMac teardown, also by iFixit, revealed the presence of an AirPort antenna hiding behind the aluminum-encased, plastic Apple logo. This patent presumably describes the next generation of this antenna-logo design. How much do you want to bet we see the second iteration of this in an upcoming iPhone, maybe even the iPhone 5?<br />
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<h6></h6><a href="http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/12/apple-invents-new-kind-of-logo-antenna-for-portables.html">Source</a>

Apple patent application puts antenna in the logo

A recently discovered Apple patent application dated from June 2009 suggests Apple may build future devices with an antenna housed dire...

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Google triumphs in Android patent case

<P align=center><img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com/classifications/gadgets/phones/mobile-phones/images/android_logo_big-200-200.jpg"></P> <br /><P>The threat of Google having to give up the Android name has been banished after a judge found in the search giant's favour in a long running patent case.</P><br /><P>Erich Specht was asserting that he owned the rights to the name, and <a href="">back in mid-2009 put together a court case</A> and asked for £70 million in damages.</P><br /><P>But a judge has sided with Google over who has the rights to use the name, despite the Big G being denied the trademark back in 2007.</P><br /><P><STRONG>What about Specht's appeal?</STRONG></P><br /><P>TechCrunch has published the full 57-page documentation of the case, and after sifting through, it appears that Specht was merely trying to get a slice of the pie for a trademark he'd given up on.</P><br /><P>In 2003 he ceased trading through the Android Data company, after the company's he was providing systems for either stopped taking licenses or became defunct.</P><br /><P>He attempted to sell the assets for the company, including giving up the trademark, but after that was unsuccessful he eventually left the name dormant and eventually let the domain AndroidData.com expire.</P><br /><P>It was only after a call to purchase the trademark in 2009 did he learn of Google's intentions, and began trying to resurrect the company before filing the lawsuit.</P><br /><P>But the judge has decided these efforts were simply designed to gain money from Android's success and sided with Google by throwing the case out.</P>

Google triumphs in Android patent case

Google triumphs in Android patent case

The threat of Google having to give up the Android name has been banished after a judge found in the search giant's favour in a long ru...

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Rumor: Apple bidding for Nortel patent assets

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGY143LsIXt6jYnOz5WN7j2jKsDPVLehpSnuxp2FUC4LpYOJvIzSxlfuG0AxIaCiXF-ZACUNWAaiPv5nIf4Lt3SOw9Z0PFIspCV42g-AMWpesMCSykThau3XT_w-cGirK5-j_qoon4FOM/s1600/nortel-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGY143LsIXt6jYnOz5WN7j2jKsDPVLehpSnuxp2FUC4LpYOJvIzSxlfuG0AxIaCiXF-ZACUNWAaiPv5nIf4Lt3SOw9Z0PFIspCV42g-AMWpesMCSykThau3XT_w-cGirK5-j_qoon4FOM/s320/nortel-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=latesttecompu-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000Y99R4W&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>The formerly high-flying Canadian telecommunications hardware provider Northern Telecom appears to be on its last legs, and Apple and Google are apparently among the vultures circling overhead ready to pick at the most valuable parts of the carcass. The two Silicon Valley companies are said to be among the bidders for Nortel's huge patent portfolio. <br />
<br />
Nortel is a company with a history dating back to the earliest days of the telephone, having been established in 1882 by the Bell Telephone Company of Canada to manufacture phones and network equipment north of the border. In the 1990s, Nortel had tremendous growth as it provided many of the bits and pieces that made the expansion of the internet and mobile phone networks possible. The burst of the bubble saw the rapid decline of Nortel until it finally filed for bankruptcy protection in mid-2009. <br />
<br />
Nortel has a portfolio of over 4,000 patents estimated to be worth over $1 billion. With both Apple and Google involved in patent litigation relating to their respective mobile phone efforts, the Nortel patents are likely be of great value as a defensive measure. Research in Motion and Motorola are also expected to bid on the patents in order to protect their own positions. Intellectual property battles between big companies often end up in a stalemate if both sides can conjure up sufficient patents that their opponent might be infringing on. The result is usually some sort of cross-licensing agreement that makes the lawyers wealthier and lets the companies go on their merry way. The auction of the patents is expected to be wrapped up soon.

Rumor: Apple bidding for Nortel patent assets

The formerly high-flying Canadian telecommunications hardware provider Northern Telecom appears to be on its last legs, and Apple and Googl...

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Microsoft touchscreen patent could bring Braille to tablets

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com///images/microsoft-surface-pc-1-200-200.jpg"><br /><P>Microsoft has been busy designing a new patent that it hopes will revolutionise touchscreen devices.</P><br /><P>According to the <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19776-microsoft-develops-shapeshifting-touchscreen.html">New Scientist</A>, the touchscreen technology uses pixel-sized shape-memory plastic cells that can be called to the surface individually.</P><br /><P>This technology could theoretically allow the shapes of objects to be 'felt' on a big-screen device, like a tablet.</P><br /><P><STRONG>You got the touch</STRONG></P><br /><P>The patent goes some way into explaining how the technology works, stating that that plastic is sprayed with polymer – a malleable coating which reacts differently depending what type of UV light is shone on it. </P><br /><P>It is unknown how close to market the technology is, but if successful it could change the way touchscreens are used and even offer up a way to bring Braille on to mobile devices for the visually impaired.</P><br /><P>It seems that the technology won't be coming to phones anytime soon, because it has been created for bigger touchscreens.</P><br /><P>Microsoft could well implement it into its Surface devices in the future, though, as well as the inevitable slew of tablets.</P>

Microsoft touchscreen patent could bring Braille to tablets

Microsoft touchscreen patent could bring Braille to tablets

Microsoft has been busy designing a new patent that it hopes will revolutionise touchscreen devices. According to the New Scientist , the to...

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Apple Applies For Patent For Slimmer iPad

News > Consumer Electronics > Apple Applies For Patent For Slimmer iPad" lang="en-us" />   Techtree.com India > News > Consumer Electronics > Apple Applies For Patent For Slimmer iPad  <body>var myimages=new Array()function preloadimages(){for (i=0;i<img alt="Logo" border="0" src="/ttlogo.png" /><img alt="Guest" border="0" src="/avatar-sample-generic-1.jpg" />Hello, GuestSign Up | LoginSend us your feedback SubscribeFollow usHomeNewsGamingInternetTelecomSoftwareNetworkingInterviewGeneralHardwareSecurityGadgetsElectronicsPrices/TariffsReviewsMobilesDigi. CamerasMP3 playersLaptopsLCD TVsGraphics cardsMonitorsMotherboardsSpeakersPortableAllGuidesSoftware guidesHardware guidesPrice listPC buying guidesDIYPeripherals/Gadgets Buying GuidesFeaturesGamesFeaturesGame CheatsPreviewsMobile GamesReviewsDownloadsGamesInternet ToolsPluginsSystem Tools VideosVideo ReviewsGame VideosShowcase Forums Notes Mobiles LaptopsDigi. Cams.LCD TV MP3 PlayersAll Categories<strong>Windows Phone 7</strong>     Home » News » Consumer Electronics <br /><b class="rtop2"><b class="r1"></b> <b class="r2"></b> <b class="r3"></b> <b class="r4"></b></b><img alt="Apple Applies For Patent For Slimmer iPad" border="0" height="150" src="/113520matter.jpg" width="200" />Apple Applies For Patent For Slimmer iPadJayesh Limaye, Nov 22, 2010 1253 hrs ISTCupertino seems to acknowledge the slight obesity of its tabletShare Cupertino seems to acknowledge the slight obesity of its tablet<img alt="mail" border="0" height="30" src="/mail.gif" width="16" /><img alt="share" border="0" height="30" src="/share.gif" width="17" /></p><b class="rbottom2"><b class="r4"></b> <b class="r3"></b> <b class="r2"></b> <b class="r1"></b></b><b class="rtop2"><b class="r1"></b> <b class="r2"></b> <b class="r3"></b> <b class="r4"></b></b><p> Apple has filed patent, which apparently appears to be its admittance to the long held popular complaint against the iPad - that it is too heavy. According to the new patent, the new iPad would have a light and rigid body made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), rather than aluminum unibody.<br><br><img align="baseline" border="0" hspace="0" src="/113520ipad-patent-1.jpg" vspace="0" /></p><br><br>Titled "Reinforced Device Housing", the patent issued on November 18, by the US Patent and Trademark Office, does not explicitly mention "iPad" anywhere, but the illustrations simply give away the gadget implied. It describes a body for "an electronic device or other object" consisting of a rigid CFRP frame or "spine" over which a CFRP skin is stretched.<br><br><br><img align="baseline" border="0" hspace="0" src="/113520ipad-patent-2.jpg" vspace="0" /></p><br><br>The description states that the skin will consist of multiple layers of CFRP in a cross shape with the arms of the cross to be wrapped around the spine. The layers would have the fiber grain running in alternating directions to increase rigidity and to prevent the skin from cracking.<br><br>The patent filing also mentions the possibility of using other materials such as Kevlar, Dyneema and Spectra, which are all fiber-in matrix materials like CFRP.<br><br>We must note here that the iPad's aluminum body does not account for much of its weight, it is the internals that do. But Apple seems to be taking the issue seriously and trying to cut weight wherever possible. Could this be the patent for the iPad 2? We will have to wait till next April to find out.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br> SMS REV to 59995 to get expert reviews on latest phones, laptops, cameras and more.<br> <br> SMS TIPS to 59995 to get Tips and Tricks for phones, laptops, cameras and more.<br> Rs. 3 per SMS<br><br><p></p><p><img alt="Follow Techtree on Twitter" src="/followbird-c.png"/></p></p>Related LinksNow, Amazon On Your iPhoneMost Expensive Phone - Diamond Studded iPhone 3GApple Awarded iPhone Interface PatentTag keywords iPad 2 Apple patent US Patent and Trademark Office CFRP Kevlar fiber skin iPad</p><b class="rbottom2"><b class="r4"></b> <b class="r3"></b><b class="r2"></b> <b class="r1"></b></b>"><b class="rtop2"><b class="r1"></b> <b class="r2"></b> <b class="r3"></b> <b class="r4"></b></b>Discuss this article( All fields are mandatory )Comment hereNameCityE-mail Word VerificationType the characters you see in the picture below. <img alt="Enter the characters appearing in this image" id="capimg" src="C:\Program Files\ABS\Auto Blog Samurai\data\Hacking Tricks\TechTree\"/>          Refresh Captcha</p><b class="rbottom2"><b class="r4"></b> <b class="r3"></b><b class="r2"></b> <b class="r1"></b></b><br><br><b class="rtop2"><b class="r1"></b> <b class="r2"></b> <b class="r3"></b> <b class="r4"></b></b>Discussion Board (2) CommentsAmerican Ingenu ,Cupertino, on Nov 22, 2010 10:09 PMAll ur jobs are now coming back to US<img src="/reply.gif"/>Report abuse Milind ,Mumbai, on Nov 22, 2010 07:28 PMIpad IOS 4.2.1 upgrade available today "L)<img src="/reply.gif"/>Report abuse </p><b class="rbottom2"><b class="r4"></b> <b class="r3"></b><b class="r2"></b> <b class="r1"></b></b>Hot stuff<b class="rtop2"><b class="r1"></b> <b class="r2"></b> <b class="r3"></b><b class="r4"></b></b><img alt="Sauerbraten" border="0" height="45" src="/IPStbn.jpg" title="Sauerbraten" width="60" />Is IPS the preferred Choice of Panel?<img alt="Sauerbraten" border="0" height="45" src="/113472matter.jpg" title="Sauerbraten" width="60" />What to Expect From the Apple iPhone 5 (or 4G)<img alt="Sauerbraten" border="0" height="45" src="/113432matter.jpg" title="Sauerbraten" width="60" />Comparing Android Touch Phones Under Rs. 20K<img alt="Sauerbraten" border="0" height="45" src="/113411matter.jpg" title="Sauerbraten" width="60" />The Truth Behind LED TVs<img alt="Sauerbraten" border="0" height="45" src="/113330matter.jpg" title="Sauerbraten" width="60" />Is Apple Compromising Usability for Aesthetics?<img alt="Sauerbraten" border="0" height="45" src="/113365matter.jpg" title="Sauerbraten" width="60" />Why it's not the right time to go 3D</p><b class="rbottom2"><b class="r4"></b> <b class="r3"></b> <b class="r2"></b> <b class="r1"></b></b>Opinion Poll<b class="rtop2"><b class="r1"></b> <b class="r2"></b> <b class="r3"></b><b class="r4"></b></b>Would you use to Facebook's new e-mail service as your primary e-mail address?YesNoCan't SayPoll ResultsView Previous Polls</p><b class="rbottom2"><b class="r4"></b> <b class="r3"></b> <b class="r2"></b> <b class="r1"></b></b>function validate_opinion_poll(){ var formObj = document.getElementById("ttnd_opinion_poll"); btn = formObj.ChoiceID;var cnt = -1;for (var i=btn.length-1; i > -1; i--) {if (btn[i].checked) {cnt = i; i = -1;}}if (cnt > -1) return true;else {alert("Please choose any one of opinion poll choices");return false;}}ReviewsMobileMP3CameraLaptopTV  News Internet Gadgets Gaming Software  Hardware Interviews Games Reviews Previews FeaturesDownloadsGamesInternetAddons/PluginsToolsGuidesD-I-YBuying GuideFeaturesVideosNotes Forums Ask Techtree User ReviewsPopularE3 2010iPhone 4Nintendo 3DSiOS 4Latest User Comments<img border="0" src="/utvlogofooter.gif" />Send us your feedback© Copyright 2010 UTV New Media Ltd. 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Apple Applies For Patent For Slimmer iPad

Apple Applies For Patent For Slimmer iPad

News > Consumer Electronics > Apple Applies For Patent For Slimmer iPad" lang="en-us" /> Techtree.com India >...

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Patent Protection For Software In India

<br />		<p>PATENT PROTECTION FOR SOFTWARE IN INDIA</p><p>INTRODUCTION</p><p>Patentability of the software- related inventions are very controversial in these days. In early 1960s and 1970s uniform response was that software was not patentable subject matter. But in subsequent years United States and Japan expanded the scope of patent protection. But several countries including Europe and India are reluctant to grant patents for computer program for the fear that technological progress in this volatile industry will be impeded. Proponents for the software patenting argue that patent protection will encourage, and would have encouraged, more innovation in the software industry. Opponents maintain that software patenting will stifle innovation, because the characteristics of software are basically different from those of the innovations of old Industrial, e.g. mechanical and civil engineering.</p><p>PROTECTION FOR SOFTWARE -RELATED INNOVATIONS</p><p>WIPO defined the term computer program as: "A set of instructions capable, when incorporated in a machine readable medium, of causing a machine having information processing capabilities to indicate, perform or achieve a particular function, task or result". Software can be protected either by copyright or patent or both. Patent protection for software has advantages and disadvantages in comparison with copyright protection. There have been many debates concerning patent protection for software as information technology has developed and more software has been developed. This caused mainly due to the characteristics of software, which is intangible and also has a great value. It needs huge amount of resources to develop new and useful programs, but they are easily copied and easily transmitted through the internet all over the world. Also due to the development of e-commerce, there is urge for patenting of business methods.</p><p>Computer programs remain intangible even after they have actually come into use. This intangibility causes difficulties in understanding how a computer program can be a patentable subject-matter. The questions of whether and what extent computer programs are patentable remain unresolved.</p><p>More than half of the 176 countries in the world that grant patents permit the patenting of software-related inventions, at least to some degree. There is a worldwide trend in favor of adopting patent protection for software-related inventions. This trend accelerated following the adoption in 1994 of the TRIPS Agreement, which mandates member countries to provide patent protection for inventions in all fields of technology, but which stops short of mandatory patent protection for software per se. Developing countries that did not provide such protection when the TRIPS agreement came into force (January 1, 1995) have until January 1, 2005, to amend their laws, if necessary, to meet this requirement.</p><p>EUROPEAN PATENT CONVENTION</p><p>The European Patent Convention is the treaty that established the European Patent Organization (EPO). The EPO grants patents that are valid in those member countries designated in the EPO application and subsequently perfected in those countries. Enforcement of the EPO patent is obtained through the national courts of the various countries.</p><p>The software has been protected by copyright and excluded from patent protection in Europe. According to Article 52(1) of the European Patent Convention (EPC), European Patents shall be granted for any inventions which are susceptible of industrial application, which are new and which involve an inventive step. Article 52(2) excludes schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business, and programming computers from patentability. Article 52(3) says that prohibition relates only to software 'as such'.</p><p>For Some years following implementation of the EPC, software in isolation was not patentable. To be patentable the invention in such a combination had to lie in the hardware. Then came a test case, EPO T26/86, a question of patentability of a hardware-software combination where hardware itself was not novel. It concerned patent for a computer control X-ray machine programmed to optimize the machine's operating characteristics for X-ray procedures of different types. The patent office refused to patent the invention. Technical Board of Appeal (TBoA) disagreed and upheld the patent, saying that a patent invention could consist of technical and non-technical features ( i.e. hardware and software). It was not necessary to apply relative weights to these different types of feature.</p><p>RECENT CASES</p><p>1.VICOM CASE</p><p>The VICOM case has authority on what does mean "computer Program as such" and what constitutes a "mathematical method". The patent application related to a method and apparatus for digital image processing which involved a mathematical calculation on numbers representing points of an image. Algorithms were used for smoothing or sharpening the contrast between neighboring data elements in the array. The Board of Appeal held that a computer utilizing a program to carry out a technical process is not claim to a computer program as such.</p><p>2. IBM cases</p><p>Subsequent major development occurred in 1999, when cases T935/97 and T1173/97 were decided on appeal to TBOA. In these cases the TBOA decided that software was not "software as such" if it had a technical effect, and that claims to software per se could be acceptable if these criterion was met. A technical effect can arise from an improvement in computer performance or properties or use of facilities such as a computer system with limited memories access stimulating better access by virtue of the computer programming. Decisions T935/97 and T1173/97 were followed elsewhere in Europe.</p><p>The European Technical Board of Appeals of the EPO rendered two important decisions on the patentability of Business Methods Inventions (BMIs). Business Methods Inventions can be defined as inventions which are concerned with methods or system of doing business which are using computers or internets.</p><p>3. The Queuing System/Petterson case</p><p>In this case a system for determining the queue sequence for serving customers at plural service points was held to be patentable. The Technical Board held that the problem to be solved was the means of interaction of the components of the system, and that this was a technical problem, its solution was patentable.</p><p>SOHEI CASE</p><p>The Sohei case opened a way for a business method to be patentable. The patent was a computer system for plural types of independent management including financial and inventory management, and a method for operating the said system. The court said it was patentable because "technical considerations were applied" and "technical problems were solved". Thus, the Technical Board considered the invention to be patentable; it was dealing with a method of doing business.</p><p>The most widely followed doctrine governing the scope of patent protection for software-related inventions is the "technical effects" doctrine that was first promulgated by the European Patent Office (EPO). This doctrine generally holds that software is patentable if the application of the software has a "technical effect".  The EPO law regarding patentability of software tends to be somewhat more liberal than the individual laws of some of the EPO member countries. Thus, one desiring to patent a software-related invention in Europe should generally file an EPO application.</p><p>INDIAN PATENT ACT</p><p>Like in Europe, in India also the doctrine of "technical effects" governs the scope of patent protection for software-related inventions. The patent Act of 1970, as amended by the Act of 38 of 2002, excludes patentability of software per se. Section 3(k) of the Patent Act states "a mathematical or business method or a computer program per se or algorithm" is not patentable invention. The computer program products claimed as "A computer program product in computer readable medium", "A computer-readable storage medium having a program recorded thereon", etc are not held patentable for the claims are treated as relating to software per se, irrespective of the medium of its storage .On the other hand "a contents display method for displaying contents on a screen", "a method for controlling an information processing apparatus, for communicating via the Internet with an external apparatus", "a method for transmitting data across an open communication channel on a wireless device that selectively opens and closes a communication channel to a wireless network, and each wireless device including a computer platform and including a plurality of  device resources that selectively utilizes a communication channel to communicate with other devices across the network" are held patentable though all above methods utilize computer programs for its operation. But computer program solely intellectual in context are not patentable.</p><p>CONCLUSION</p><p>In India software per se is not patentable. The inventions relating to the application of the computer program or software is held patentable under the Indian Patent Act, 1970 when claimed in combination of hardware and software components of a computer which provides a "technical advancement" over the prior art. It is necessary for the applicant to describe the "technical contribution" to the prior art when the invention involves software. The technical problem, which needs to be solved by the invention, should be sufficiently described as to how the hardware is controlled by the software to overcome the previously described problem. The "technical character" of the invention should be brought out clearly in the claims.</p>	<br />	<br />		<br />			<br />				<br />					<br /><br />						<p>V.R.GOPU M.A, LL.M (U.S), Attorney at Law of PMG ASSOCIATES, Patent and Trademark Attorneys, India of <a href="http://www.pmgip.com" target="_new">http://www.pmgip.com</a></p>					<br />

Patent Protection For Software In India

Patent Protection For Software In India

PATENT PROTECTION FOR SOFTWARE IN INDIA INTRODUCTION Patentability of the software- related inventions are very controversial in these da...

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