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Thread: Since when is making a rectangular mobile device "innovation"?

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    Senior Member ajones's Avatar
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    Since when is making a rectangular mobile device "innovation"?

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/11...unded_corners/

    The world gone mad.... If you believe this, then does the US Patent Office really consider that a rectangular (sans rounded edge) mobile device does not fall foul of prior art?

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    Re: Since when is making a rectangular mobile device "innovation"?

    It's a much more limited design patent not your 'normal' utility patent. Almost all companies take out a design patent on their products to stop people making an identical looking product. It doesn't stop you making something with rounded corners it stops you making something that looks exactly like it. It wasn't awarded a patent on all rectangles with rounded corners just that one. You would need to copy it almost exactly to infringe.

    The media coverage of this is hyperbolic and laughable.

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    Re: Since when is making a rectangular mobile device "innovation"?

    Quote Originally Posted by chuckskull View Post
    Almost all companies take out a design patent on their products to stop people making an identical looking product. It doesn't stop you making something with rounded corners it stops you making something that looks exactly like it.
    Once upon a time I'm sure this fell under "copyright".

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    Re: Since when is making a rectangular mobile device "innovation"?

    USPO is useless.
    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
    And by trying to force me to like small pants, they've alienated me.

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    Re: Since when is making a rectangular mobile device "innovation"?

    Quote Originally Posted by BobF64 View Post
    Once upon a time I'm sure this fell under "copyright".
    Nope never fallen under copyright. Copyright is for non-functional items, Design patents are for the ornamental design of functional items. It's been this way since the 1840's.

    Apple does plenty of unscrupulous things with patents but this isn't one of them. Mountain out of a molehill territory. If they tried to use this patent to sue everyone who made something with rounded corners it would be, but they'd fail.

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