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German Court Finds Apple's 'Slide To Unlock' Patent Invalid

Posted by timothy on from the einfach-zu-einfach dept.

New submitter anderzole writes "Germany's Federal Patent Court on Thursday invalidated all of Apple's claims for its slide-to-unlock patent. They death blow for Apple's slide to unlock patent was likely a Swedish phone called the Neonode N1m that launched well before the iPhone and featured its own slide to unlock implementation. The N1m was released in 2005 while Apple's own patent for slide to unlock wasn't filed until December of 2005."

7 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. Now Apple should pay 1/10th of it's value by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Now Apple should pay 1/10th of it's value as a penalty.
    Result: no more stupid patents filled by thieves.

  2. What I want to know is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How did this nonsense patent even get granted in the first place? I've worked on getting patents filed, and we usually meet with all sorts of resistance even when there is actually something to the patent. Who is getting paid off to grant nonsense patents like this?

  3. Apple is just another Electronics Company by tuppe666 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I know Apple are Patent rapists, but should we care. The iPhone is still the second most popular phone range in the US but it is doing badly everywhere else. I have seen this video...I have seen this prior art mentioned...now 6 years later its invalidated...in one country, Android have already worked around this patent, and pretty nifty it is too, we even have some very fun alternative unlocking methods including fingertips and facial recognition.

    Why are we not discussing the great technology from other manufacturing companies like IR being reintroduced to phones...or waterpoofing phones, or the ever growing screen size. Hell even compare two screen phones DS style to electronic paper/led screen phones. Lets discuss relevant electronics companies that innovate, in fact lets talk about that technology.

    1. Re: Apple is just another Electronics Company by SternisheFan · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Apple phones are already almost water proof. There are videos of people putting them in tanks of water and they remain on the entire time. Google it.

      For about $80 you can have any phone get a 'completely waterproof' coating applied to it, warrantied for 2 years, not just water-resistant.

      I'm not an Apple hater, I've always thought they are amazing devices, but they just aren't the cutting edge leader in phone tech they once were. Attempting to keep their lead, Apple has been trying to kill the encroaching competition through frivolous patent lawsuits, and not doing too well at it. They should have innovated new killer tech instead of just treading water.

      The iPhone popularized touchpad input, and that gave them the needed edge to become the leader in smartphones, they were the coolest phone then. That was a decade ago, and Apple just doesn't have that exclusiveness anymore. Android devices have caught up and in many ways surpassed iPhones. Apple continues on now based solely on customer loyalty.

      Over a year ago I opted for the Android system due to its being less costly up front. Having been immersed in smartphone culture since, I've realized that smartphones are portable computers with internet/ bluetooth connectivity, that also have phone 'apps'. And an iPhone is basically an app player, with an alternate OS. They haven't come out with anything new that sets it apart from the competition. Unless the next iPhone has something the others don't, then Apple's had it's time in the sun.

  4. Re:It's sad by AK+Marc · · Score: 4, Interesting

    My great grandmother had slide-to-unlock locks on her luggage. I have a 100+ year old prior art for "slide to unlock." And I doubt that was the first. Deadbolts in castles from 1000+ years ago likely employed the same mechanism.

    --
    Learn to love Alaska
  5. Re: It's sad by dfghjk · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "Problem is if apple didnt patent it someone else would have filed a patent years later and sued apple

    Yes."

    No.

    Very few use patents offensively. Apple is among the few worst offenders. Furthermore, patenting this "years later" would clearly be invalid.

    Apple IS the patent problem, not the victim of it.

  6. Re:Apple faithful mod anything anti-Apple down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    You also still don't get it...at all. The vast majority of the press is very against Apple these days.

    And you obviously don't get it, either. You give evidence to the parent's claims with this very post. Just because "the press" reports something negative about Apple, does not make them "against Apple". But you fanboys take anything negative and act like there's some hidden conspiracy to slander you pet Company, instead of admitting that the object of your Hero Worship might not be as perfect as you believe.