Article: Does Apple own Multi Touch?

[GeoUSA]

In another thread I mentioned my suspicion that Android omitted multi-touch and auto-rotation to avoid patent issues with Apple. An article today in Fast Company may support this idea. It's such a useful control mechanism, I believe it will eventually become as common as the mouse. Sadly, the first developers will have to be wary...

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/chris-dannen/techwatch/does-apple-really-own-multi-touch

 

[Ageless Stranger]

and who will win this battle of wills?

The lawyers will, after squeezing enough juice out of both parties with years of court room capers. It might, just might push palm over the edge into oblivion. Palm really need a new device out there at the moment and not years of fighting IP rights. Although if memory serves me right, the first video I saw of windows 7 showed "pinch" technology on the desktop with a nice large touchscreen display. Will Apple go for Microsoft too?

Who knows, this "rumour" may have been taken out of context and it could refer to something completely different

 

[Cryptic79]

Will Apple go for Microsoft too?

Wouldn't that be the Super Bowl of software legal departments?

 

[noonehereyet]

At one point British Telecom actually tried to claim they had a patent over hyperlinks. Yes, hyperlinks. Those little clicky things that this page has about 30 of. That got laughed out of the courtroom real fast. Although if this ever gains any legal momentum, I'm going to hop the patent train, claim patent on breathing, and sue the hell out of everyone.

I have dibs on typing... think I'll patent that... no one will type another letter without paying me royalties!

 

[Ageless Stranger]

I have dibs on typing... think I'll patent that... no one will type another letter without paying me royalties!

As the owner of the thought patent, I shall be sending the thought police to your door to investigate your uses of thought, thinking and thunking.

 

[noonehereyet]

As the owner of the thought patent, I shall be sending the thought police to your door to investigate your uses of thought, thinking and thunking.

damn... foiled again!