Tag: legal

How the Tech World is Celebrating the Same-Sex Marriage Decision

After a long and tiring struggle, US Supreme Court has finally ruled that same-sex couples can marry nationwide, marking the significant event in the history books. This event took place a little over a decade after Massachusetts became the first state in the US to legalize gay marriage.

The Supreme Court ruled by a 5-to-4 vote on Friday that the American Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. Along with the rest of the world, tech houses were ecstatic and quickly celebrated the decision by the use of social media. Take a look:

The White House’s Facebook account now has a profile picture in which the building itself is all the colors of the spectrum.

Let’s start with the leader of the free world, President Barack Obama:

Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins

— President Obama (@POTUS) June 26, 2015

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook, who came out to the world recently, tweeted:

Today marks a victory for equality, perseverance and love. — Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 26, 2015

Twitter itself called Friday a “monumental day for equal rights” and encouraged people to use a pair of Twitter emojis that included the rainbow flag, a symbol of the gay community.

This is a monumental day for equal rights. Join the celebration by using the new Twitter emoji #Pride and #LoveWins: https://t.co/h1wAuNn7Qi — Twitter Open (@TwitterOpen) June 26, 2015

Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said the decision marked “a historic moment.”

A historic moment and step forward for equality in America. #LoveWins — Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) June 26, 2015

Google and YouTube played their part as well in celebrating this historic event. Google included a subdued note reading, “YouTube and Google are proud to celebrate marriage equality. #ProudtoLove.”

Facebook quickly added a feature super easy way to help its users celebrate gay marriage rights. With this, Facebook-ers can add a gay pride flag filter to their profile picture. Click here to convert yours.

While this ruling affects a country half way around the global, we’re happy to join in the celebration of the world taking steps in the right direction.

India, it’s now your turn.

June 27, 2015
Apple Pays USD 60M for iPad Trademark in China

Apple has agreed to pay US$60 million for ownership of the iPad trademark in China, as part of a settlement with a little-known Chinese firm called Proview that had tried to ban sales of the tablet in the country, according to a local court.

The Guangdong Province Higher People’s Court announced the settlement on Monday, and stated that the legal dispute had been put to rest. Following the payment to Proview, Chinese authorities transferred the “IPAD” trademark to Apple.

The two companies have been locked in a legal dispute to determine ownership of the iPad trademark, with Apple claiming to have bought the iPad trademarks for China from Proview in 2009.

The Guangdong court was originally expected to rule on the case. But Apple and Proview were in recent months in talks to settle the dispute, at the initiative of the court.

Proview had wanted as much as $400 million in settlement from Apple in order to help clear its debts. Eight banks have taken over Proview’s assets and are owed $180 million.

Li Su, the head of the consultancy representing the eight banks, said Apple initially wanted to pay only a few million dollars for the iPad trademark. But over time, Apple negotiated in good faith, realizing the dispute would linger in Chinese courts unless a settlement was reached, he added.

Su said he did not know how the $60 million received from Apple would be spent.

July 2, 2012
Apple vs Samsung settles down as parties drop several claims

Both Apple and Samsung have dropped several claims from the case against one another, after Judge Lucy Koh informed them to do so. Apple has reduced its case to one claim from each of its asserted utility patents, its four iPhone and one iPad design patents, and its trade dress claims for those two devices. While Samsung has dropped their cases to 15 altogether from a a total of 75 and completely deleted two claims.

Both parties can later re-assert the removed claims in another lawsuit if they choose to do so.

The case date for the hearing is on July 30th, after which a real outcome may finally be achieved.

[Apple filing]

[Samsung filing]

May 9, 2012
Apple vs Samsung Heats up : new complaint : 17 devices infringe 8 patents.

With the old lawsuit not yet over, Apple has filed a new complaint that attack 18 new Samsung devices. According to Apple the devices infringe 8 patents that are currently owned by Apple. Four of the patents in question having been granted since the last time Apple filed suit against the Korean firm including missed call management, slide-to-unlock and data-syncing technology.

The devices infringing the patent include the new Galaxy Nexus along with all variants of the Galaxy SII, Galaxy Player 4.0 and 5.0, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and Galaxy Tab 8.9.

Looks like this battle is going to be a never ending one, or at least till cupertino gets some korean slaves in its undertone.

[Complaint (PDF)]

February 16, 2012
Google gets fined in France for Free Google Maps

Really? A Parisian commercial court in France has fined Google to pay a fine of €500,000 for giving its maps for free. Bottin Cartographes, who was on the other side of the lawsuit claimed that the Company ( Google) has leveraged the market by giving away its Google Maps service for free, while others try to make a living off it.

“We proved the illegality of [Google’s] strategy,” said the prosecution counsel.

Google plans to Appeal the decision, and believes that the company has not eliminated competition in this segment and is purely giving away its services because it can.

Honestly, since when are Awesome products for free, looked down upon?

February 3, 2012
Request for preliminary ban on Galaxy Tab 10.1N and Galaxy Nexus Denied to Apple in German Court

German Court has denied the Preliminary ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Nexus, as requested by Apple on the basis of Touchscreen copyright infringement. The court declared the patent invalid due to the market presence of the same technology before the patent was granted. The court in Dusseldorf has yet to give its final decision on the ban of Galaxy Tab 10.1N, which may finally give us the expectancy of the said Tab.

[Bloomberg]

February 2, 2012
Apple’s Appeal to suspend the temporary injunction lift for Galaxy Tab rejected in Australia

First Apple managed to get an injunction against the sale of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia, The Korean company managed to get the courts to temporarily lift the injunction . Apple then appealed this lift of injunction, But it seems that this appeal was denied by the Aussie Court, as is being reported by The Register. Samsung will be now allowed to sell its Galaxy tab 10.1 throughout the holiday season, gathering up enough sales to recover initial costs of ad investments.

Samsung says the device will on on the shelf on Monday, December 12, with list prices of $579 for the 16 GB WiFi Galaxy 10.1 Tab, and $729 for the 3G version in Australia.

[The Register]

December 9, 2011
German court permanently bans Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Apple vs Samsung, Indian courts approached

German judge Johanna Brueckner-Hoffman has ruled in Apple’s favor on Friday by banning Samsung from selling its GALAXY Tab 1o.1 tablets in Germany.

The court is of the opinion that Apple’s minimalistic design isn’t the only technical solution to make a tablet computer, other designs are possible

– Said the Judge

Apple has also blocked Samsung from selling its GALAXY Tab 10.1 in Australia until a court there rules whether or not the tablet infringes on 10 of Apple’s patents. Apple has also approached the Indian courts to seek ban on sales of the Galaxy 750 in India. The benefit for Samsung here is that Apple will not be able to use the german courts ruling, because the name of the two devices is different. i.e. the Galaxy 750 in India and Galaxy Tab 10.1 rest of the world. Whether Samsung India was already expecting the legal battle is unknown.

Samsung, meanwhile, plans to appeal the ruling in a higher court and a spokesman said

We are disappointed with this ruling and believe it severely limits consumer choice in Germany.”

September 10, 2011
Apple Wins German injunction against Samsung, Galaxy Tab 7.7 removed from IFA

Apple has won the injunction filed in German Courts for the immediate halt in sales and display of the Samsung Galaxy Tablet. Several vendors in and across Europe have stopped selling the Galaxy Tablets launched this year. Samsung pulled its new Android tablet from both the IFA show floor and its German website on Saturday, in compliance with a Friday decision handed down by the same Düsseldorf Regional Court court that banned sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 last month. The 7.7-inch slate had previously been on display with a sticker that read “Not for sale in Germany,”.

Samsung said that it “respects the court’s decision,” and vowed to do everything it could to defend its intellectual property.

September 5, 2011
Apple vs Samsung – Apple denied a Sped up Suit

In the case of Apple vs Samsung, Samsung was earlier denied the motion to put a stop on sale of Apple products in the US which broke the patents held by Samsung. Apple went on to countersue and asked for a ban on sale of Samsung Products like the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy S2 / S among others. Apple has also asked to see upcoming products from the company to ensure that none of them violate trademark and copyright laws.

Whats more Apple had also asked for the Judge to speed up the hearing and briefing process. The court put Apple down by denying its request to compress the briefing schedule. The reson for denial is stated as “Apple’s knowledge of Samsung’s alleged infringement for more than a year and the fact it engaged in license negotiations with the Korean company during that time.”

[Order (PDF)]

July 14, 2011
Apple Files second Patent Infringement Complaint against HTC – Shares Drop

Its only been a couple of months and Apple has slammed HTC with the second patent infringement case. The US International Trade Commission is reporting that HTC is being accused and is being asked to stop the import of “personal electronic devices”. Last year, Apple filed a separate action against HTC with the U.S. International Trade Commission, where HTC then leveled its own patent infringement claims against Apple. Preliminary rulings for those cases are expected this week.

Shares in the world’s No.5 handset maker, HTC Corp (2498.TW), tumbled more than 4 percent on Tuesday, after Apple Inc (AAPL.O) sued the company in a fresh complaint with a U.S. trade panel.

HTC said its net profit doubled in the second quarter, beating market expectations. But analysts suggested that because the operating income tracked forecasts, they expected shares of HTC would consolidate before the investor conference at the end of this month, when the company gives guidance for the third quarter. There are rumours out there that HTC would need to pay Apple T$20 billion ($693.64 million) in compensation.

That would lower down profit expectations considerably.

July 12, 2011
Apple Sues Samsung for the Second time , Now in Korea

Apple inc. has filed a suit for the second time, against Samsung for copying the iPhone’s design. The suit claims that the Samsung Galaxy S copies the third-generation iPhone.

“It is no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging,” an Apple spokesperson said regarding case

The suing war started back in April when Apple sued Samsung claiming it copied “Apple’s technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products.” Samsung responded just one week later by filing countersuits.

The interesting aspect behind all of this is that Apple is currently Samsung’s largest buyer of LCD components. Go figure !

June 25, 2011
Apple Increases Attack against Samsung, Adds More devices to the Suit
Apple has added a bunch of other Samsung Smartphones to their already existing Lawsuit, that claims that Samsung Infringes copyrights that belong to Apple. The new additions to the suit include
- DROID Charge
- Exhibit 4G
- Galaxy Ace
- Galaxy Prevail
- Galaxy S
- Gravity
- Infuse 4G
- Nexus S 4G
- Replenish
- Galaxy Tab 10.1
- Galaxy S II
Apple had earlier already filed a complaint against Galaxy S, Nexus S, Epic 4G, and Galaxy Tab among other products.

[quote]Before Apple’s introduction of the first iPhone product, no other company was offering a phone with these features. Prior mobile phones were often bulkier and contained physical keypads. Some had a rocker-style navigation button and sets of buttons for numbers and calling features. Others had a front panel with a partial or full QWERTY keyboard and a screen. None had the clean lines of the iPhone, which immediately caused it to stand apart from the competition.[/quote]
June 18, 2011
Apple sues Amazon over App Store trademark infringement

Apple was already in Battle with Microsoft for their “APP Store” Trademark infringement. Now Amazon is releasing its APP Store for the Android OS platform. But, Amazon’s Android Appstore seems to have been intentionally contracted to a single word to differentiate its name. Apple claims it reached out to Amazon on three separate occasions asking it to rename its software download offering, but when faced with the lack of a “substantive response,” it decided to take things to court.

“We have a long-standing practice of not commenting on pending litigation,” Mary Osako, a spokeswoman for Seattle-based Amazon, said late yesterday.

Apple said in the court filing that it contacted Amazon three times to demand that it cease using the name and that Amazon hadn’t “provided a substantive response.”

“We’ve asked Amazon not to copy the App Store name because it will confuse and mislead customers,” said Kristin Huguet, a spokeswoman for Apple.

[Bloomberg]

March 22, 2011
Nokia tablet in works, suggests patent

Nokia has been talking about the Tablet market since early 2010, and their latest patent filing suggests a N8 style tablet heading towards us. The question remains, if the device will actually run Symbian optimized for tablets or Windows Phone 7 for tablets.

The render Suggests a 9-10 inch tablets with a thickness around 12mm. The device also has sd card slots and 2 usb slots. Check out the patent images below.

[USPTO (D634,317), (D634,318)]

March 16, 2011