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The Unexpected Patents of Steve Jobs

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the who-patents-a-staircase dept.

Harry writes "It's no surprise that Steve Jobs' name is among those credited in Apple's patents for MacBooks, iPods, and other iconic gadgets galore. But the man holds patents for packaging, a staircase, iPod cases, and several intriguing products that Apple hasn't built to date. They all add up to an interesting portrait of the world's most famous tech CEO."

7 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. Really? The *infamous*? by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Steve Jobs is not the world's most famous tech CEO.

    Bill Gates has better name recognition than Jobs, if only because his philanthropy reaches so many more people than Jobs' work does.

    1. Re:Really? The *infamous*? by apodyopsis · · Score: 5, Insightful

      His philanthropic accomplishments are certainly praiseworthy, but it's worth remembering that his vast wealth was mainly accumulated with some really unpleasent business tactics.

      See "A History of Anticompetitive Behavior and Consumer Harm"
      http://www.ecis.eu/documents/Finalversion_Consumerchoicepaper.pdf

      Whilst I congratulate the man for subsidising research and giving to worthy causes I have to wonder if he would do so much if he was not one of the worlds richest man.

    2. Re:Really? The *infamous*? by TheRealMindChild · · Score: 5, Insightful

      So spending money to save lives is a PR stunt? Maybe. Regardless, he is still saving lives. Give the man some bloody credit.

      --

      "When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
    3. Re:Really? The *infamous*? by LandDolphin · · Score: 4, Insightful

      More Companies make money because of Microsoft then Apple. If Apple had Microsofts market share with their current business model, how many other companies would not exsist?

      --
      Spelling and Grammar errors have been added to this post for your enjoyment
  2. Re:Don't Forget the Lanyard by jonbryce · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Pretty much all Microsoft's products come from buying up small companies that have the technologies he wants.

    Marketing certainly plays a part, but finding the right companies to buy up in the first place is also a very important skill.

  3. Re:Don't Forget the Lanyard by amicusNYCL · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Probably a fair indication of what kind of leader you have on your hands ... definitely marketing/business for Gates.

    I don't understand how you can come to a conclusion like that. All that shows is that Steve Jobs thinks that it's important to get his name on patents, and Bill Gates doesn't. I can't find definite numbers, but Apple has at least 2000 patents, and Microsoft had at least 5000 three years ago. Frankly, I think the fact that Steve Jobs is more interested in getting his name on patents means that he is the more business and marketing-oriented of the two, not Gates. Gates could have his name on several thousand patents, but apparently he didn't think that was important.

    --
    "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
  4. Re:Don't Forget the Lanyard by Lars+T. · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm not sure about that. I don't know a lot about Gates' role, but Jobs had absolutely nothing to do with almost all of those patents other than being CEO at the time they were submitted, and in most cases having the opportunity to torpedo the invention but choosing not to do so.

    So why isn't his name on all Apple patents since he became CEO?

    --

    Lars T.

    To the guy who modded me down from perfect to terrible Karma - Apple haters still suck