Thread

US jury says Apple owes record $5.7B in haptic technology patent case

77 points · 67 comments · onemoresoop

smalltorch · 1790442053 · focus · HN ↗
Wow, that's a lot of money for a little buzz. I mean what could possibly be such sacred knowledge that a vibration could even be patentable.
You spin a unbalanced thing in a circle and it creates a vibration. Make it less unbalanced and you get a smoother vibration.
1. bigyabai · 1790442710 · focus · HN ↗
  Why do people cry foul like they've lost a limb when OpenAI steals Apple IP, but then shirk away from condemning Apple stealing Taction or Masimo's IP?
  The community has to pick a lane. Either IP theft is good and promotes competition, or IP theft is bad and we have to apply the law equally.
  1. smalltorch · 1790442873 · focus · HN ↗
    I need more details which the article doesn't provide but I'm pretty sure vibration is common knowledge and what could the design possibly done that was so patentable
    bigyabai · 1790442975 · focus · HN ↗
    Vibration might be, but the Taptic Engine is differentiated and trademarked as Apple's own unique feature: <a href="https://uspto.report/TM/86543432" rel="nofollow">https://uspto.report/TM/86543432
    californical · 1790455965 · focus · HN ↗
    That’s like saying light is common knowledge, creating a device that emits light couldn’t possibly be patentable. Or heat is common knowledge, induction stoves shouldn’t be patentable. Like if that’s your threshold then nothing is patentable

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