Chinese Company Sues Apple Over Siri

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Chinese Company Sues Apple Over Siri

Posted by samzenpus on Monday July 9, 2012 @01:34AM from the ours-first dept.

judgecorp writes "Shanghai Zhizhen Network Technology is suing Apple in China, claiming Siri infringes its voice technology patent. Zhizhen claims to have 100 million users for its Xiao iRobot software which responds to voice questions and commands. From the article: 'The move came only days after Apple Inc paid $60 million to Proview Technology (Shenzhen) to end a protracted legal dispute over the iPad trademark in China. Zhizhen's patent covers "a type of instant messaging chat robot system", according to the database of the country's State Intellectual Property Office. It was filed on Aug 13, 2004, and got approved on Feb 15, 2006. '"

46 of 174 comments (clear)

Huh? by MonsterTrimble · 2012-07-09 01:39 · Score: 5, Funny

Wait, a CHINESE company is worried about intellectual property infringement? Did I miss the memo?

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I call it 'The Aristocrats'
1. Re:Huh? by SJHillman · 2012-07-09 01:40 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  They have their cake, now they'd just like to eat it.
2. Re:Huh? by Dyinobal · 2012-07-09 01:41 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Actually I think china is pretty aggressive in protecting its industries from foreign patent infringement it just isn't so aggressive in protecting western countries from infringement.
3. Re:Huh? by Jerom · 2012-07-09 01:43 · Score: 2
  
  The Chinese sharks smelled bl$$d with the whole "ipad" name debacle...
4. Re:Huh? by MonsterTrimble · 2012-07-09 01:46 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  That is probably true - I deal with a number of manufacturers from China on a daily basis and none of them are really concerned about cloning a competitor's product for us if we desire it. I just found it funny is all.
  
  --
  I call it 'The Aristocrats'
5. Re:Huh? by TheGratefulNet · 2012-07-09 01:49 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  but an hour later, they'll just want even more!
  seriously, though, this could not have happened to a 'better' company. hope apple has a major headache from this. I'd buy a ticket to the event if one is ever sold.
  yes, the more evil you are, the more we cheer as you get burned by the very weapons you use to attack others.
  
  --
  
  --
  "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
6. Re:Huh? by ArhcAngel · 2012-07-09 02:15 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  More to the point. The company in question many times manufactures product for said US competitor and simply continue to manufacture them off hours sans the logo.
  
  --
  "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K
7. Re:Huh? by s.petry · 2012-07-09 02:17 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  HEY, LOOK AT THOSE CHINESE BUSINESSES AND LOOK HOW BAD THEY ARE! Meanwhile US companies hire illegal workers, sue everyone and everything, lie to regulators, blackmail anyone trying to prosecute them or investigate them, pay media to outright lie to US citizens, and steal from US citizens.
  Until we clean up things at home why is anyone in the US talking about China? Wholly crap man, you do realize that banks are still foreclosing on houses where owners don't even have mortgages right? You do realize that things like Honeywell vs. Nest are still happening right? You do realize that Merck was found falsifying reports and documents to the FDA which caused millions of people to get sick and in some cases die just to make pharmaceutical companies lots of money right? Hell, the DOJ illegally sold guns to Drug cartels in Mexico and nobody even talks about it let alone has been prosecuted or punished.
  Don't mistake what I say for saying China is magically better than the US. What I'm saying is that we are so fucked up right now we have no right to bitch about anyone else.
  
  --
  -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.
8. Re:Huh? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-09 02:18 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  You could say the same about the US. Just ask Samsung.
9. Re:Huh? by troon · 2012-07-09 02:31 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  Wow. You win the prize for the worst spelling of "ridiculous".
  
  --
  Ydco co ,df C erb-y go. a Ekrpat t.fxrapev
10. Re:Huh? by tsa · 2012-07-09 02:53 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  They're like slashdotters: copying to their heart's delight but when their own copyright is abused they cry foul.
  
  --
  -- Cheers!
11. Re:Huh? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-07-09 03:11 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  CIA world factbook says 1.3 billion. That's not "billions".
12. Re:Huh? by s.petry · 2012-07-09 03:13 · Score: 2
  
  You understand very correctly, but I guess it could be subjective. IP law in the US is horrid, unfair, costs society and our economy tremendous amounts of money. The EU has had a much better track record with IP, so I guess you could complain about the US's IP policies and laws. With that said, if your Government was full of corruption, you were fighting 2 legal wars and several illegal wars, News was reclassified as "Entertainment" (Thank you for that Supreme Court ruling by the way), and I could go on and on here but will save you the trouble... What does bitching about other people get you other than a distraction from your own problems? We have passed the point long ago where as citizens we should be worried about what other Governments are doing, at least in the US, and need to be worried about cleaning up our own act.
  All citizens of every Government should consider that same thought.
  
  --
  -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.
13. Re:Huh? by SimonTheSoundMan · 2012-07-09 03:16 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  What you have to remember with China is it is not a corporation suing Apple but in effect the government suing Apple.
  Companies in China belong to China – You can't trade in China, you trade with China. You can't go to a company wanting to trade, you have to deal with a government official asking you want to trade with China.
  Most people who run these large companies rise through local and central governments, many becoming government officials. They have huge influence on all parts of China, think of it like a Masonic society – A magic handshake with the judge, you know the case will be favourable to you winning.
14. Re:Huh? by Grishnakh · 2012-07-09 03:31 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Why should they be? The USA wasn't aggressive in protecting British IP holders from infringement back in the 17-1800s, in fact they didn't enforce that at all, and the USA made a bunch of money as a result.
  What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
15. Re:Huh? by ThatsMyNick · 2012-07-09 04:35 · Score: 2
  
  Have you ever heard of retaliation or Tit-for-tat (it is a very good game tactic actually).
16. Re:Huh? by poity · 2012-07-09 04:38 · Score: 2
  
  But doesn't hypocrisy depend on contradiction at the same time? In your example, the American contradiction is separated by 200-300 years (not to mention great differences in federal authority between US of 1700's and US of today), whereas the Chinese contradiction is simultaneous in occurrence (and occurring under the same government). So the former doesn't quite fit the definition, while the latter is a perfect fit.
  
  --
  your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
17. Re:Huh? by Grishnakh · 2012-07-09 04:52 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Perhaps, but it is a great example of history repeating itself. Back in the 1700s, Britain was the major world power, and made a lot of money with IP laws and demanded that everyone else respect them, and instead America ignored them and made cheaper copies and made a fortune at it; before long, Britain was a has-been and America was the major power.
  Now, a couple hundred years later, history is repeating itself. America, which got rich partially by ignoring IP laws and making cheaper copies of stuff, is bitching and whining that others are copying their stuff and demanding their IP laws be enforced worldwide, while China ignores them and makes cheaper copies of stuff and is making a fortune doing it.
  I guess it just shows how little people learn from history.
18. Re:Huh? by s.petry · 2012-07-09 05:04 · Score: 2
  
  Pretty much, yeah you should not be telling a Frenchman anything in my opinion and here is why: You and I may not be politicians or mega billionaires, but how do you begin to fix problems with our own Government? Learn what our problems are, educate people to the problems, vote, and petition and force change. If we do nothing, or express apathy what will change? It's a matter of where we, as citizens, need to spend our energy or things can only get worse.
  I read about new corruption every day, some dating back decades that I have never heard of. Example: Did you know that the US was using depleted uranium rounds all over the middle east and not just against armor as we were told? DU rounds have caused US citizens, that fight for your rights, to become extremely ill as well as the populations where the rounds were used. Did you know that in most cases, there were no clean up efforts and US Military people were not even told there was risk? That does not even consider the local populations that deal with this every day mind you.
  I teach people things every day, or try. Most people have no idea what operation Fast and Furious was, let alone that there is currently no one being held accountable for selling weapons to Mexican drug cartels. I don't even get in to the part where it's shown in the leaked documents that it was expressly intended as an attack against the second amendment. Even though it's in the documents, people would immediately think "Conspiracy Theory" since they have been brain washed by the media in to thinking anyone talking bad about the US Government's actions must be a Conspiracy Theorist.
  I write articles, and advocate for people to get involved. I'm guessing that I'm on Government watch lists for doing things like writing this post on /. Hell if you supported Ron Paul you were placed on a watch list, openly talking about the corruption must be way way worse.
  It really bothers me that I fear my own Government even though I am expressing thoughts within my constitutional rights and am anything but against the USA. I think it's founding was the best thing that has happened in history as far as Governments go, and am a strong advocate for the Constitution and Bill of Rights . The reality is, this is the level of corruption we are dealing with. The corrupt don't care about the Constitution or the Bill of rights.
  Back to my opinion: Go right ahead and bitch about a French military action to a Frenchman. Just don't bitch about losing money to an illegal bank action, since your energies were not spent where it may have made a difference.
  
  --
  -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.
19. Re:Huh? by ThatsMyNick · 2012-07-09 05:49 · Score: 2
  
  With the patent office rubber stamping patents, I for one, do not see any meaningful use for patents, in the tech industry, other than for defensive purposes (I love IBM in this regard). So yeah I would be fine with Google retaliating with a FRAND patent to a startup that sues Google (even if the patent is really innovative and really patent worthy (and life saving (actually, especially when life saving))). I would also rather see the industry keep innovative ideas a trade secret, rather than try to patent it (or atleast try to keep it a secret, than patent it)
20. Re:Huh? by orlanz · 2012-07-09 07:15 · Score: 2
  
  I think the modern day equivalents of "Export Tea leaves to Britain, buy back, and pay taxes on tea" and "Have coastal territories pay taxes on salt" is Design and Software patents.
21. Re:Huh? by Grishnakh · 2012-07-09 09:53 · Score: 2
  
  Well in that case, I guess it says a lot about the Chinese's ability to learn from history, and the Americans' inability to do so.
One Wonders... by sycodon · 2012-07-09 01:42 · Score: 2

...how whatever authority that is perpetuating software patents continues to ignore the mountain of empirical evidence showing such patents are a very bad idea.

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When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
Countersuit. by JustAnotherIdiot · 2012-07-09 01:42 · Score: 5, Funny

Zhizhen claims to have 100 million users for its Xiao iRobot software which responds to voice questions and commands.
Apple counter sues for the use of the letter i.

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What do I know, I'm just an idiot, right?
Apple can't have it both ways by chowdahhead · 2012-07-09 01:58 · Score: 4, Insightful

Live by the sword, die by the sword.
1. Re:Apple can't have it both ways by Rogerborg · 2012-07-09 02:46 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Heh, they wished for it, they got it.
  US companies are lobbying like demons to have China enforce their "intellectual property" on the assumption that the little yellow devils are too lazy and dumb to ever invent anything of their own.
  A billion smart, hungry people and an education system that doesn't pander to the lower common denominator is about to show them how arrogant and short sighted that is.
  You want to take them on, patents trolls? They can write three patents to your one, and for a quarter of the price.
  I'd rub their noses in it some more, but the sad part is that it just means that everything is going to cost us more, and the only people who will benefit will be Chinese lawyers.
  
  --
  If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
2. Re:Apple can't have it both ways by Dodgy+G33za · 2012-07-09 03:23 · Score: 2
  
  Nah, this is good. As soon as someone other than the US is getting the most benefit from patent and copyright, you just watch the US agitate for a change....
Re:Go China! by Overzeetop · 2012-07-09 02:02 · Score: 4, Funny

I might tell Siri to call me Dave, just so she can say "I can't do that, Dave."

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Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
Re:Right... Some more to come? by El+Torico · 2012-07-09 02:07 · Score: 4, Funny

That first one would make a great name for a feminine hygiene product.

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In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is usually crucified.
Hard to sympathize with patent troll Apple. by walterbyrd · 2012-07-09 02:14 · Score: 2, Funny

No company - not even Microsoft - is a more shameless patent troll than Apple. Have you forgotten about Apple's harassment lawsuit against HTC?
Maybe turnabout is fair play?
Fast prosecution by Infiniti2000 · 2012-07-09 02:50 · Score: 2

It was filed on Aug 13, 2004, and got approved on Feb 15, 2006.
I think this is the real story here. From the time to file to approval is about 1.5 years. In the U.S., it's 5 to 8 years. We cannot hope to compete if these numbers are real, and, apparently, they are.
Thank You China by ianare · 2012-07-09 02:56 · Score: 5, Interesting

You better believe something will be done about software patents, and IP laws in general, when the Chinese start to heavily sue US companies.
I mean, when it's US companies bashing those in other countries, software patents are awesome. When the inverse occurs, they are obviously a hinderance to progress.
1. Re:Thank You China by Dodgy+G33za · 2012-07-09 03:26 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Worse that a hinderance. They are an affront to the free world and the democratic way of life.
  Which is why when the US was founded they ignored European patents and copied like fucking crazy. It was only when they started having ideas of their own worth protecting they thought different.
Re:So, in China is it cheaper to do this manually? by RaceProUK · 2012-07-09 03:19 · Score: 4, Funny

Baked or green?

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No colour or religion ever stopped the bullet from a gun
Companies are just more afraid of Microsoft by Quila · 2012-07-09 03:45 · Score: 4, Informative

Microsoft is getting $5 for every Android phone from HTC, Motorola, and probably the rest because Microsoft threatened to sue over patents.
1. Re:Companies are just more afraid of Microsoft by scot4875 · 2012-07-09 05:29 · Score: 2
  
  Microsoft negotiates license fees. Apple looks for injunctions banning sales. There's a world of difference between the two. Manufacturers probably *would* just cough up cash and license these patents from Apple just to save the court costs if Apple would allow them to pursue that option.
  --Jeremy
  
  --
  Jesus was a liberal
2. Re:Companies are just more afraid of Microsoft by andydread · 2012-07-09 06:07 · Score: 2
  
  Motorola claims they are not paying Microsoft a red cent for any crap software patents such as "rendering text before images". MS filed suit and Moto hit back with H.264 patents looking to get X-Box banned in the USA and possibly all versions of Windows with h.264 embedded.
Business Model in China - stolen from Apple! by walterbyrd · 2012-07-09 04:04 · Score: 3, Interesting

China must have stolen Apple's business model!
For example, Apple just patented Google Glass. Before that, Apple patented Googe search. How about the "slide to unlock" or "pinch to shrink" ideas that Apple stole then patented, and sued over?
Prior art by Mhrmnhrm · 2012-07-09 04:44 · Score: 2

Apple has at least 20 years of prior art to fall back on here. While it didn't always work exceedingly well, I clearly remember telling the Mac in my high school library's material office (where us helper rats did things like laminate posters for teachers) things like "Marie, run Myst," and a minute later, hearing the opening theme play.

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I suspect that one of these choices is incorrect. Correct.
Credit where credit is due by fibonacci8 · 2012-07-09 04:52 · Score: 2

Robert Heinlein's character "Mike" in "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" describes pretty elaborately everything Siri or the Xiao iRobot do. But back in 1966. Responses based on partial data input, voice recognition, even learning humor in terms of funny and not funny. Not to mention being part of a global communications network. Most of the patents I see in the lawsuits should've been denied for not being novel, being roughly half a century late in their invention.

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Inheritance is the sincerest form of nepotism.
Re:so... by kelemvor4 · 2012-07-09 05:01 · Score: 2

Eh, prior art doesn't matter to the patent office. They upheld apple's patent on the look of the ipad even after seeing what appears to look and behave exactly like the ipad in the movie "2001" from 1968.

Here's a clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3949GAIokg
same old by Quiet_Desperation · 2012-07-09 05:09 · Score: 2

Who even cares at this point? There's eight hundred trillion of these lawsuits filed every day. Sitting there caring or rooting for or hating on one side or the other is exactly the distraction the sociopaths in charge want.
Mayans Sue Egyptians by ambidextroustech · 2012-07-09 05:11 · Score: 3, Interesting

Honestly, how did the Mayans make pyramids much like Egyptians? Some say Ancient Aliens, but perhaps there is a very real, extremely subtle connection between peoples on different continents?
And we wonder why it's so bad to work with the Chinese? China Venture Is Good for GE but Is It Good for U.S.?
I remember some big executive saying that "these are our patents. We own them" and I sat listening and said to myself, the Chinese are making it? Say goodbye to your patents; it's theirs now.
I could care less... ;) by strikethree · 2012-07-09 05:38 · Score: 3, Insightful

[Nelson] Ha Ha [/Nelson]
Live by the sword, die by the sword.

--
"Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
Slavishly and shamelessly stealing IP Apple? by andydread · 2012-07-09 06:00 · Score: 4, Insightful

Maybe its time for Apple to stop slavishly copying others IP and claiming it as their own without permission? We know how shameless they are about their actions.
1. Re:Slavishly and shamelessly stealing IP Apple? by Osgeld · 2012-07-09 11:41 · Score: 2
  
  apple is bad, but china doesnt even pretend to give a shit about other peoples IP. I personally hope they keep this up though, pissing off enough companies to finally storm in and nail everyone in china making knock off crap, and using trademarked logos on everything they have no right to.