I think the issue wasn't that Apple took to long to sort out problems
with their initial and resubmitted patents.
I belive that though their initial (and following patents) were
rejected and the patent application is still on going - I think the
way it works is if Apples original, but amended patent gets granted
then it over rides any granted after the initial application date
(unsure we only did a small amount of intellectual property law in my
degree so <shrug> may be wrong
Apple took too long to file a patent on part of its blockbuster
I-Pod music players, so Microsoft jumped in and beat Apple to it.
Tech pundits are snickering at the prospect of Apple having to pay
Bill Gates big royalties on the hugely popular I-Pods, which account
for more than a third of Apple's revenue.
On Tuesday, technology lawyer John Ferrell said Apple still has a
lot of options, and this isn't a knockout blow. He said Apple could
file a declaration stating it invented the technology before
Microsoft filed its patent request.
The company could also alter the patent claims so they don't overlap
Microsoft's. Ferrell estimates it could be at least another six
months before it's all sorted out.
--
~
Mark Secker [EMAIL PROTECTED]
9380 2308 (GSE) 9380 1855 (ECEL)
ECEL Computer Support Officer, University of Western Australia.
CRICOS Provider No. 00126G
~
"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose
sight of the shore."
Andre Gide
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across
the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil,
shouting GERONIMO"
Hunter S Thompson(?)
