No, I'm not kidding. Sony really has just patented a tablet called the "EyePad", because that's not confusing or trollish at all. I'm sure if Sony ever makes the EyePad, Apple will be totally fine with it. Read More >>
Featured comment by Murphy:
"Why submit a patent with such poor illustrations. The angles would make this product a without a 90 degree corner - doubt this is the intention. Surel..." More »
Apple has lost a critical patent battle in Brazil, leaving local firm Gradiente free to market its own "iphone" in the country. But it's only a budget Android model, so there won't be a huge amount of confusion among buyers. Read More >>
Back in 2011 we first heard of BT's attempt to sue Google over its use a broad series of tech patents supposedly under BT's ownership. Now Google's striking back in what looks like little more than a revenge attack to gain some bargaining chips. Read More >>
Is the traditional password on death's door? I only ask because we've seen a few moves where companies are looking beyond the alphanumeric, like Google considering a USB/NFC piece of jewellery (like a ring) which could grant access to its services. Read More >>
Featured comment by Kat Hannaford:
"Yeah, or what if your friend steals your phone, and actually recognises the displayed contact's photo, as it's a mutual friend or something? Doesn't s..." More »
The problem with most ebooks is you can't exactly give them with a friends or pass them onto your children when you're done. But Amazon might actually address that with a new patent to sell used ebooks. Read More >>
It's a rumour that never dies: Apple is working on a cheaper, "budget" iPhone that will push for market-share in developing markets where the companies typically premium are especially expensive. But in the absence of hard evidence, we have soft evidence. Like this patent for a plastic iPhone. Maybe this is that rumoured budget iPhone? Maybe? Read More >>
Featured comment by Indy Sidhu:
"I remember a rather similar article for the patent of a smaller 'cheaper' iPad now known as the smaller, less advanced and expensive iPad mini." More »
Because the court system is an inescapable never ending maze of appeals and paperwork, a ruling doesn't seem to mark the end of anything. Even when the court said Samsung had to pay a billion dollars to Apple back in August, it can rule something differently tomorrow. Or at least, tweak and overturn something. Last night, Judge Lucy Koh ruled that Samsung's infringement of the Apple patents were not 'willful' which means Samsung might be able to get a voucher on the billion it owes Apple. Maybe. Read More >>
Featured comment by warriorscot:
"Apple gets away with the prior art argument but nobody else does, ultimate double standard. Patents systems the world over need a shake up and a manda..." More »
Featured comment by dirtymagic86:
""So Soverain sued Newegg and won in 2010... Then, in 2010, it won $2.5 million off of Newegg"
Really recommend reading the Ars article if you want ..." More »
On January 28th 1958, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen patented the humble Lego brick. His company had existed, making other toys, since 1930—but it was 55 years ago today that the infamous studded plastic brick was officially born. Read More >>
Apple's latest niche little patent idea covers automatically adjusting mobile displays. Such systems have been around for years, but Apple's new idea uses the contrast level of media rather than ambient light to set its display level. Read More >>
With Google's Project Glass still very much in its awkward developmental stages, the best method of controlling it remains up for debate. This patent, though, suggests that a laser-projected control pad might be in the running. Read More >>
Featured comment by Spazturtle:
"I don't think it projects the control surface I think you just see it on the screen, so you look at your arm and a control pad appears on your arm." More »
You know that feeling. You're in a dark room, maybe you just woke up, and you reach for your phone to check something and—BAM!—you're assaulted by its full brightness and effectively blind and squinting for the next 30 seconds. Or maybe you just want to text at the movies. Microsoft has a potential fix for that. Read More >>
Featured comment by josh.moulder:
"This annoyed me about my Lumia 710, the brightness was on the lowest setting, but wherever you were, it was still pretty bright!" More »
Patent wars are still raging in plenty of parts of the tech world, but today there's something of a ceasefire between Google and Microsoft. Google has just filed with the ITC in the US to stop attempts to prevent Microsoft from using certain compression techniques with the Xbox 360. Read More >>
Featured comment by Someone Else:
"Agreed, the only problem is what is a "fair and reasonable" price for the patents in question. This was the issue that Google & Microsoft were fig..." More »
The US FTC just announced a settlement with Google, which the commission had been investigating for illegal, anti-competitive behaviour. And it's mostly good news for everyone except Google: less patent warfare, less search engine bullying. But Google's still off the hook in one very important way: the feds are dropping their investigation. Read More >>
Featured comment by FRISH:
""Less legal pissing. This is good."
Yeah that's great but I don't recall Google taking anyone to court. So what's going to happen to Apple? They're t..." More »
An incredible bit of patent abuse has been uncovered in the US, where a series of companies are trying to claim a patent on the act of scanning docs and emailing them -- and is asking for $1,000 per employee to overlook this apparent offence. Read More >>
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