New Technology Reviews!.: Legal

Samsung shipped more smartphones than Apple in Q3

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The phone manufacturer willy-waving contest shows no sign of abating as a Samsung insider brags that the company shipped more phones than Nokia or Apple in the last quarter.</div>
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The Wall Street Journal cites "a person familiar with the situation", who said that Samsung shipped more than 20 million smartphones in the three months ending 30 September.</div>
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Apple has already revealed that it sold 17.1 million iPhones in its quarter that ended 24 September, while Nokia claims to have shipped a mere 16.8 million smartphones.</div>
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Samsung and Apple are currently pitting their legal teams against each other in a global patent dispute that has already seen several Samsung phones and tablets banned in a number of countries.</div>
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Both companies have also announced major new handsets since the close of the quarter in question.</div>
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Apple's iPhone 4S is already on sale and selling well (4 million sold in the first weekend) – and even the rarely-humble Apple conceded that iPhone sales dropped off towards the tail end of the quarter as the public awaited the new handset.</div>
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The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is set to find its way to shop shelves in early November and, as the flagship Android 4.0 handset, it's likely to do very well in the run up to Christmas.</div>
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Nokia is somewhat of a wildcard though; it is set to unveil the first round of its Windows Phone smartphones at Nokia World next week and no one really knows how well they'll be received.</div>
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Samsung shipped more smartphones than Apple in Q3

The phone manufacturer willy-waving contest shows no sign of abating as a Samsung insider brags that the company shipped more phones t...

Three UK takes legal action over NFC consortium

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Three UK has filed a complaint with the EU over the proposed near field communications (NFC) payment consortium consisting of Vodafone, Everything Everywhere and O2.</div>
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The three major networks hope to develop a mobile wallet project that uses a pay as you go system on NFC chips that allow users to 'tap and pay' in shops and cafes.</div>
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Regulators are yet to give Vodafone, Everything Everywhere and O2 the go ahead, but Three isn't hanging around, having filed the legal action with the EU's antitrust authorities.</div>
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Stephen Lerner, Three's general counsel, describes the networks' consortium as a "cosy collaboration" and said that the EU "should not allow this type of collaboration to go forward under any circumstances.</div>
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"Excluding the maverick raises serious competition concerns. It has serious implications for both consumers and wider business as the internet continues to move mobile."</div>
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NFC is on the cusp of taking off in a big way, with Google throwing its weight behind the technology and Apple rumoured to be including an NFC chip in the new iPhone 5; clearly the UK's mobile network operators want a slice of the NFC pie.</div>
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Three UK takes legal action over NFC consortium

Three UK has filed a complaint with the EU over the proposed near field communications (NFC) payment consortium consisting of Vodafone...

Apple alleges Andy Rubin got inspiration for Android while working at Apple

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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="251" mce_src="http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/6083/anrdoirasdfd2.jpg" src="http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/6083/anrdoirasdfd2.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; height: 251px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 8px; max-width: 640px; width: 209px;" width="209" />A substantial wrinkle has just been introduced in Apple's patent infringement case against HTC. According to recent briefs that Apple filed in that case, Android's genesis was not in the mid-1990s when Andy Rubin worked for General Magic or Danger. Instead, Apple alleges that Rubin drew inspiration for Android's frameworks from APIs he encountered while working for Apple itself in the early 90s.</div>
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Apple claims that Rubin was a "low-level engineer" who reported directly to the engineers who invented one of the patents it claims HTC infringes. Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents surmises this means Rubin may have "contributed to the implementation of the claimed invention." If true, this allegation would go a long way toward proving Apple's claim that Rubin derived some of Android's frameworks from work he did at Apple.</div>
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Mueller notes that this has "serious ramifications" should Apple ever decide to sue Google itself rather than suing it by proxy via Android handset manufacturers. "Google (or a Google subsidiary like [Motorola]) would almost certainly be found to infringe the relevant patent intentionally, and willful infringement would greatly increase Apple's chances of obtaining an injunction as well as triple damages."</div>
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Mueller points out that the judge presiding in Oracle's lawsuit against Google also suspects Rubin of willful patent infringement. If Google is found guilty of willful infringement in both the Oracle suit and an as yet theoretical suit from Apple, Google's future (and Android's) looks very rocky indeed.</div>
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Apple alleges Andy Rubin got inspiration for Android while working at Apple

A substantial wrinkle has just been introduced in Apple's patent infringement case against HTC. According to recent briefs that Appl...

Atari, EA and others push court to accept Apple's request against Lodsys

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Lodsys filed suit earlier this year against a number of third-party App Store developers, claiming that it owned patents covering a number of functions used by Apple's app marketplace, and that by using that store, these third-party devs were in violation of these patents. Apple, however, came out swinging a little while back, throwing a blistering letter down in the lawsuit, essentially calling Lodsys' claims nonsense. And now Atari, EA, and a number of other iOS developers named in the lawsuit have thrown their support behind Apple's argument, officially filing motions to support Apple's position outlined in that letter.</div>
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The motions also ask that Apple be allowed into the lawsuit as an intervenor and not just a third-party, so that it can properly review and make an actual response to everything filed by Lodsys. Lodsys has been accused of making an end-run around Apple to the smaller developers in this case, and trying to go after companies that might not be able to afford a fight, but passing this motion would pit Lodsys straight up against Apple and all of its resources rather than just the developers themselves.</div>
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One notable exception from the companies already fighting the case: Google. Lodsys reportedly also targeted Android developers, but so far Google hasn't stepped up in the same way that Apple has. We'll have to see if the folks in Mountain View are willing to join the fight as well.</div>
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Atari, EA and others push court to accept Apple's request against Lodsys

Lodsys filed suit earlier this year against a number of third-party App Store developers, claiming that it owned patents covering a nu...

Google accuses Apple and Microsoft of teaming up to strangle Android

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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="151" mce_src="http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6083/anrdoirasdfd2.jpg" mce_style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" src="http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6083/anrdoirasdfd2.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia,'Bitstream Charter',serif; line-height: 1.5; margin: 8px auto; max-width: 640px;" width="125" />David Drummond, Senior VP and Chief Legal Officer at Google, has posted a diatribe against Apple and Microsoft, both competitors against Google's Android platform. "Microsoft and Apple have always been at each other's throats, so when they get into bed together you have to start wondering what's going on," Drummond writes.</div>
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What's going on according to Drummond? It's "a hostile, organized campaign against Android by Microsoft, Oracle, Apple and other companies, waged through bogus patents." Some of those said "bogus" patents, it bears mentioning, were subject to a US$900 million opening bid from Google, a bid the company later lost to a consortium of companies including Apple and Microsoft. Just saying, $900 million is a lot of money to put on the table for something that's bogus.</div>
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"Patents were meant to encourage innovation, but lately they are being used as a weapon to stop it," Drummond says. I can't argue with that -- Lodsys immediately comes to mind -- but is he trying to tell us that Google would never leverage the Nortel patents against Apple and Microsoft if the bidding had gone the other way? Indeed, that seems to be<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;">exactly</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>what he's saying when he accuses competitors of "fighting through litigation" instead of "competing by building new features or devices."</div>
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"Unless we act, consumers could face rising costs for Android devices - and fewer choices for their next phone," Drummond says. It's hard for me to read this, or the rest of Drummond's piece, without translating it thus: Google is scared.</div>
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The question is,<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;">should</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Google be scared? That depends on a few things: the strength of the Nortel patents, any possible regulatory intervention in the purchase of those patents, Apple and/or Microsoft's willingness to actively pursue patent claims and "strangle" Android, and finally, the courts' determination as to whether or not Google has violated those patents. It's pretty obvious on casual inspection that Google hasn't been innovating in a vacuum, however, so if Apple or Microsoft actually are intent on "strangling" the free ride Android's had so far, then maybe Google should be exactly as scared as it sounds.</div>
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Google accuses Apple and Microsoft of teaming up to strangle Android

David Drummond, Senior VP and Chief Legal Officer at Google, has posted a diatribe against Apple and Microsoft, both competitors against ...

South Korea to fine Apple over location tracking

South Korea to fine Apple over location tracking

South Korea has fined Apple 3 million won (US$2,829) for the company's practice of tracking location information on the iPhone. The...

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...

ITC issues partial ruling against Kodak in patent-infringement case

<br/><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="119" src="http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4028/kodak20110325wt.jpg" style="margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; width: 396px; height: 198px; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid;" width="238" /></p><br/>Today was the day that the ITC was supposed to make a ruling about the patent infringement case it filed against Apple and RIM in early 2010, and sure enough, the word is out. The commission is upholding an earlier ruling by one of its judges which basically threw out the main image preview patent claim made by Kodak.<br/><br/>However, two other claims have been restructured by the ITC, siding with Kodak on one claim and not making a determination on a third. The entire case is being sent back to lower courts for further review, giving Eastman Kodak Co. a remote possibility of prevailing with the other claims.<br/><br/>Kodak was hoping for up to US$1 billion in damages, a sum that would let the beleaguered former photo giant restructure and develop products that would help it compete in the world of digital photography. With the case going back to the lower courts and the major claim essentially dead in the water, it's unlikely that the company will win much -- if anything -- in this patent infringement battle.

ITC issues partial ruling against Kodak in patent-infringement case

Today was the day that the ITC was supposed to make a ruling about the patent infringement case it filed against Apple and RIM in early 2010...

Is It Legal to Hack Your Wireless Network?

<br />		<p>Once upon a time there was no choice<br /><br>when it came to your phone<br /><br>service. Not only did you have to get your service through Bell<br /><br>Systems, you had to rent the equipment from them too. Yes, you had to<br /><br>actually rent the phone that was plugged into the RJ-45 on your wall.<br /><br>A 1968 case where Carter Electronics took on Bell Systems resolved<br /><br>that<br /><br>problem when a judge ruled that third party equipment can be plugged in<br /><br>and used on the network that Bell Systems maintained and provided<br /><br>service on. A whole new communications industry was born and consumers<br /><br>were free to choose which equipment they wanted to use for<br /><br>communications.</p><p>The Bell System companies dragged their feet for<br /><br>many years after the Carterphone decision, still requiring customers to<br /><br>rent their equipment up until consumers fought them well into the late<br /><br>70's. Even through that battle, we are still retreating back to the era<br /><br>where our communications options are becoming increasingly controlled<br /><br>in other arenas. Consumers are forced into contracts they don't want to<br /><br>be locked into, and to use phones only supplied by our wireless<br /><br>providers, Shouldn't the 1968 Carterfone decision make a difference in<br /><br>the wireless industry? Because of this case, shouldn't I as a consumer<br /><br>have the ability to use whatever equipment I want on a wireless<br /><br>network? How about a cable network? The Internet?</p><p>In the<br /><br>Carterfone case, the FCC cited their decision which<br /><br>stated that a subscriber's right to use the network in ways which are<br /><br>"privately beneficial without being publicly detrimental" applied to<br /><br>ALL TYPES OF EQUIPMENT. What does this mean? It means that everybody<br /><br>who subscribes to a service is able to use their own equipment in a way<br /><br>that benefits the subscriber as long as no other subscribers are<br /><br>affected. Without the Hush-A-Phone or Carterfone decisions, companies<br /><br>like AOL may have tried to rent us "the only computer that will work on<br /><br>the Internet." Electric companies could make a case for dictating which<br /><br>light bulbs you use. Gas companies might force you to buy their<br /><br>brand of furnaces.</p><p>Still today, most cable companies require their subscribers to rent a<br /><br>cable box you<br /><br>could buy your own. SIM card technology provides the ability to switch<br /><br>wireless phones whenever a person wants to, yet providers such as<br /><br>Verizon and Alltell fail to embrace this technology, forcing consumers<br /><br>to sign a new contract or spend exorbitant amounts of money to simply<br /><br>switch</p><p>As consumers we need to start demanding better of our service<br /><br>providers. AT&T and Sprint allow us to use SIM cards with most<br /><br>of their phones. We can go online and purchase a phone off Ebay, pop in<br /><br>the SIM card from an old phone and you're ready to go! There is<br /><br>alternative equipment that can be used on cable networks, but nobody<br /><br>really challenges cable companies when it comes to actually using it.<br /><br>We all just keep our mouths shut, dig in our pockets and fork over the<br /><br>extra $5 a month to rent the box. We have come along way since 1969.<br /><br>There are multiple phone carriers, wireless companies, and cable<br /><br>companies to choose from. But we can do better than being roped into<br /><br>paying a subscription fee on items we can buy ourselves or signing 2<br /><br>year contracts just to get the latest smartphone. Remember it's supply<br /><br>and demand. Ultimately it should come down to the consumers wants and<br /><br>needs. Not what the provider is willing to give us.</p>	<br />	<br />		<br />			<br />				<br />					<br /><br />						<p>This article is featured at <a href="http://www.technipages.com" target="_new">Technipages</a>rnwhere you can find articles and downloads related to anythingrntechnical. Submit your own technical article or post a message at the Computer HelprnForum [http://www.technipages.com/forums.html] to obtain free computer help.</p>					<br />

Is It Legal to Hack Your Wireless Network?

Once upon a time there was no choice when it came to your phone service. Not only did you have to get your service through Bell Systems, ...

Common Legal Penalties For Computer Crimes

<br />		<p>Computer technology is becoming increasingly more advanced and there is a lot of money to be made surrounding it. Where there is more money to be made, there is more criminal activity, punishable by law. The Information Act of 2000 states that there should be different penalties for different types of technological crimes. The following are common legal penalties for computer crimes.</p><p>Telecommunication service theft involves the unlawful obtainment of any telecommunications technology. This crime is punishable with a heavy fine and an undefined term of imprisonment. The legal consequences vary depending on the severity of the theft. Communications intercept crime is a Class-D crime that involves the interruption of communication technology. It is punishable by one to five years in prison along with a fine and can include other infractions such as offensive material dissemination, telecommunication piracy, and other cyber frauds.</p><p>When someone changes a source code on a computer program or website, this is called computer source tampering. Those found guilty of this crime can face up to three years in prison, or a fine. Computer hacking also carries a prison sentence of up to three years.</p><p>Though all technological crimes are taken seriously, government computer systems hold the most serious consequence when violated. Trying to obtain access to a system protected by the government is a very serious crime that can have major consequences on government operations. Anyone found guilty of tampering with a government computer faces ten years in prison and a major fine.</p><p>Protecting computer technology crimes is extremely important because the world now relies heavily on the use of computer systems to operate. With one of the most common legal penalties for computer crimes being a prison sentence, the legal system has been very effective in putting new laws in place with the changing technology. Technology crimes are taken very seriously and punished harshly.</p>	<br />	<br />		<br />			<br />				<br />					<br /><br />						<p>Are you looking for help in defending yourself against legal charges? Perhaps you need a <a href="http://federalcriminalattorneyhelp.com" target="_new">federal criminal attorney</a>? Find out all the information you will ever need at the site; <a href="http://federalcriminalattorneyhelp.com" target="_new">http://federalcriminalattorneyhelp.com</a>. And remember it is all free!</p>					<br />

Common Legal Penalties For Computer Crimes

Computer technology is becoming increasingly more advanced and there is a lot of money to be made surrounding it. Where there is more mon...