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. amelius · 1790444563 · focus · HN ↗
    The whole patent system sucks. It has nothing to do with reality.
    The aspect of "you are granted a monopoly on a technology for a period of time" is something that is especially bad.
    eastbound · 1790447020 · focus · HN ↗
    Before patents, scientists wouldn't share their findings. Patents are an excellent way of making things public domain 20 years later.
    We should have the same with software.
    armchairhacker · 1790447973 · focus · HN ↗
    Why? Open source is doing fine.
    Instead of patents, the government could just pay scientists who make useful things. Sure it costs government money, but so do the lawsuits.

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