Google Now Has Two New Unlock Patent Applications to Counter Apple's IP

Daily Tech ^ | - February 17, 2012 8:50 PM | Jason Mick (Blog)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The patents present four (somewhat) novel forms of unlock that range from simple to complex

The "Big Three" of the Android world -- HTC Corp. (TPE:2498), Samsung Electronics Comp., Ltd. (KS:005930), and Google Inc.'s (GOOG) nearly-acquired subsidiary-to-be Motorola Mobility -- all share a common legal adversary -- Apple, Inc. (AAPL). Apple has asserted a slew of claims against the Android phonemakers, and they haven't been shy about firing back, sometimes quite successfully (other times not so much).

I. The Backup Plan

One of Apple's biggest successes, however, came when it scored a German injunction on Motorola's smartphones, thanks to its unlocking patents. Apple's earliest anti-Android lawsuit against HTC also used the first of Apple's two unlocking patents, and multiple internation suits against Samsung have applied it, as well.

The German court did crucially rule that the circular unlock on the Motorola Xoom tablet was not in violation. Unfortunately, it did not rule about the grid pattern unlock (to this author's knowledge).

To cut to the chase, it is my informed opinion that Apple's unlocking patents are likely invalid or should be narrowed, due to prior art. But that process will take time. And Google can't afford its partners to be temporarily removed in such a competitive market. So that's why a new unlocking claim -- first dug up by the IP experts Patently Apple -- is so important.

Google already has filed a patent for the rights to the aforementioned grid-based unlock (U.S. Patent Application No. 20110283241 A1)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Diagrams and video at DT article.

[The Iceman Cometh]

Thanks for the post. crApple can't stand any competition so instead of creating better products, they attempt to shut down the competition.

Give me open standards and standardization of things like micro-USB instead of some crApple connection that is unique to their product.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Standardization is good, when it's become clear what those standards should be. Premature standardization stiffles creativity and competition. For instance, IMHO, you're right about micro-USB connectors now — but, until recently, it wasn't clear what standard phone connectors should look like.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There is BIB BIG MONEY involved.

Even more if they can shut down competitive devices.

They are now nearly the Largest Market Evaluation Company on the planet....nearly to Exxon Mobiles Total stock market value.

And from what I heard Friday they are holding 98 Billion in cash Reserves.

[The Iceman Cometh]

Obviously, they have and will likely always be a very creative company and first to market on many things. I object to their predatory nature however and since they have such little market share in the corporate world, they don’t have to spend the serious time needed to make sure their products are as secure as let’s say a Microsoft OS.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Screw Google! I avoid them like the plague.

[freedumb2003]

>>Screw Google! I avoid them like the plague.<<

I didn’t want to like them but frankly, Android is so much better than iApple (much less Windows) that it won me over from moment one.

And Mrs. FD has iApple stuff and the last time I tried to use one it was so subfunctional I almost threw it into the wall in frustration.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well,...I find it hard to consider Microsoft secure on anything.

Especially their operating system.

Look how big the anti-virus market is....

Amd that problem is exclusively Microsoft's....

[RedMDer]

[UB355]

I have used all, various apple computers and I devices, pcs, and now a android kindle fire. Android is clunky IMHO . Many of the apps in the android marketplace are unpolished compared to what apole offers in it’s iTunes store,

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/02/18/lawmakers-target-google-over-privacy-laws/

[The Iceman Cometh]

Well,...I find it hard to consider Microsoft secure on anything.

Heard of "Black Hat Conventions"?

This is where the best hackers are invited to come in hack products to help developers find holes. Of the 3 products Microsoft, Linux and Apple, Apple is the first to get hacked. Why? Because hackers are not focusing on something with such little desktop marketshare.

Within the Smart Phone space, I'm sure you've heard of more Apple problems as Microsoft has a much smaller share.

As far as Virii are concerned, that has more to do with stupid users who are too dumb to keep their systems up to date and fall for stupid stuff on the Internet. These are the same idiots who run their systems with Administrative level access so if something happens to their system, its a disaster.

I work in IT, that's how it is.