Apple Patents "Enforceable" Ad Viewing On Devices

Rexdude writes "Apple has filed a patent that forces users to interact with an ad. FTFA: 'Its distinctive feature is a design that doesn't simply invite a user to pay attention to an ad — it also compels attention. The technology can freeze the device until the user clicks a button or answers a test question to demonstrate that he or she has dutifully noticed the commercial message. Because this technology would be embedded in the innermost core of the device, the ads could appear on the screen at any time, no matter what one is doing.'" We've been following this story for awhile now but it seems to have broken into the mainstream.

Comments

Customer Service : My Screen is Broken

[tjstork]

Hello Apple? I have a problem with my iPhone. Every time it shows an advertisement, the screen gets smashed. Can you help?

Re:Customer Service : My Screen is Broken

[Anonymous Coward]

I was seriously starting to consider buying an iPhone. Then I see this patent, and think "I will never buy such a product".

But your post gives me hope; if everyone called apple support every time they saw an ad like this, it would be awesome.

"Hello Apple? I was dialing 9-1-1, but I only got 9-1 in, and then this screen popped up and asked me how many horsepower are in the new lexus, and now my house has all burnt to the ground, and I had to borrow the neighbor's phone because my iPhone is unusable until I answer this stupid question. BTW, can you give me the legal department's number?"

Re:Customer Service : My Screen is Broken

[TheRaven64]

People only care about DRM when it stops them doing something that they want. Few people care that they can't rip their DVDs (although a few more now that mobile devices capable of playing video are common) but a lot of people care about the unskippable segments at the start. Most people who use the iTunes store don't care about the DRM because it lets them do everything that they want. Same with Steam. The reason people hated the Sony versions is that they didn't work.

If you want people to hate DRM, don't tell them 'DRM is bad,' encourage them to do things that DRM doesn't let them do. For example, copy their music and films to their mobile phones. Then explain why they can't do it in some cases because of the DRM.

Re:Customer Service : My Screen is Broken

[stupid_is]

The patent itself has screenshots of a Mac desktop, so I'd imagine this is along the lines of "Here's a subsidised computer, but you'll have to watch our ads" - which has been done many times before. Here they present a "new" implementation.

On the other hand, I'd hate to be in their legal team the first time someone comes unstuck using Skype (or equiv) from their computer for an emergency call, and obviously they've also written the patent to apply to stuff like phones & PDAs with reference to iTunes (see [0048] on p12). Odd that they didn't include language to be able to bypass this advertising for certain instances of the function being blocked (e.g. dialling 911 rather than dialling a chum).

I wonder what would happen if you 127.0.0.1 the advertising IPs in your hosts file? Conceivably you'd be bricking the box (while breaking the ToS you signed up to, too, no doubt).

Great idea

[T.E.D.]

Actually, I'm in full support of this particular patent. As long as they don't actually use it themselves, don't license it, and vigorously enforce it.

Nothing new, but I can imagine horrible outcomes..

[KreAture]

- This is 911.
* Help, I am being attacked!
- Hold on sir, I will <click>

iPhone:
Video of security-spray followed by the question "Would this product have helped in your situation?"
Ansver: Yes

- <click> Sir, are you still there?
- Sir?
- hello?
* gurgle, gurgle.  (bloody mess on ground...)

Want to bypass the enforceable advertising?

[L4t3r4lu5]

There's no app for that.

Re:Fortunately

[Chrisq]

If they had any sense they would have patented adverts that don't force user interaction, and thereby force all other companies to make their devices too annoying to use.

Re:Nothing new, but I can imagine horrible outcome

[Phroggy]

This is 911.
Help, I am being attacked!
Hold on sir, I will--

Sir, are you still there?
Sir? Hello? Gurgle, gurgle.
(Bloody mess on ground...)

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