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Apple Granted Patent For Slide To Unlock

Posted by Soulskill on from the slide-to-unlock-a-can-of-worms dept.

generalhavok writes "The United States Patent & Trademark Office has approved Apple's patent on the slide to unlock gesture used on iOS devices. Interestingly, this patent was earlier dismissed in Europe due to prior art. With many Android phones using a similar slide gesture, it will be interesting to see how this new patent will affect the patent wars between Apple and Android vendors."

7 of 622 comments (clear)

  1. some background info on the Dutch ruling by TESTNOK · · Score: 4, Informative

    Here is an article from the FOSS Patents Blog with some details on the case ruled on in last August in the Netherlands, which is what I guess is being referred to as "earlier dismissed in Europe". It's certainly amazing how one judge can say "this clearly existed before" and another can say "no it didn't" based on the same info.

  2. Neonode N1M - prior art by __Paul__ · · Score: 5, Informative

    Given that the Neonode N1M is likely to be considered prior art, how would one go about getting the patent ruled invalid?

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  3. Re:Slide to...? by IAmGarethAdams · · Score: 4, Informative

    No, the first claim of the patent is for a gesture dragging a graphic along a "predefined, displayed path". So if the unlock gesture isn't a fixed path (like the Samsung S2, which can unlock in any direction; or the path isn't displayed, like a puzzle piece which moves along a fixed path to its destination but that path isn't visible, then it's not covered by the patent.

  4. Well what about this ? by giorgist · · Score: 5, Informative

    Announced 1Q, 2005
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj-KS2kfIr0

    Go to 4:00 to see the slide to unlock in action ...

    Now Apple requested the patent on December 2005, I am guessing some form of prior art should kill that.

    1. Re:Well what about this ? by nonicknameavailable · · Score: 5, Informative

      Neonode N1m was released in 2005

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  5. Re:Oh ffs by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Informative

    SO you don't buy Intel, AMD, Microsoft, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, HTC, Sony, Panasonic, Kenwood, Ford, GM, Toyota, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Harley Davidson, or LG products then?

    Or are you just some idiot that like to parrot what others say without actually thinking.

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  6. Re:Oh ffs by E+IS+mC(Square) · · Score: 4, Informative

    >> Android completely rocks for techie people, but it sucks for the typical drooling moron user.

    55% of marketshare against your superior (meh) Apple's 28% would like to disagree. But don't let facts spoil your fantasy.