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

77 points · 67 comments · onemoresoop

  1. smalltorch · · 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 · · 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. eecc · · focus · HN ↗
        Like the parent wrote: one “patent” is a miniature vibrator, something like those found in cheap sex toys, the other consists of poaching people working on the frontiers of knowledge, corrupting them to steal such unique ideas for money.

        Tell me you’re not so thick

        1. Rohansi · · focus · HN ↗
          > one “patent” is a miniature vibrator, something like those found in cheap sex toys

          I'm no expert but they use completely different technologies. Apple's Taptic Engine is not just a motor spinning an off balance weight like massagers.

          1. [deleted] · · focus · HN ↗

            [deleted]

          2. fennecbutt · · focus · HN ↗
            Apple's "taptic engine" is just a linear actuator aka solenoid and it has been done before.

            Apple's "liquid retina display" is just LG/Sharp/Etc IPS LCD - aka what they should be called, just like everyone does. None of this "magical Apple words" to make it sound like their own tech.

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