“On March 24, 2009, the US Patent & Trademark Office published two of Apple’s newly granted patents. The first generally relates to a passive cooling system designed for portable devices and the second patent generally relates to user interfaces, and in particular, to user interfaces that use touch-sensitive displays and include an interface reconfiguration mode,” Jack “Neo” Purcher reports for MacNN.
“Although it’s evident that Apple’s granted patent covers the iPod touch and iPhone – as the patent figures prove out, the fact remains that the patent actually covers ‘any portable electronic device.’ This of course would extend to any future ebook or touch based netbook that Apple may be planning for later this year,” Neo reports.
“The latter patent also adds to Apple’s war chest of touch display related patents which could be used in any future patent challenge. Apple’s COO Tim Cook back in January of this year, made it clear that Apple would be “ready to suit up and go against anyone‘ who would rip off their touch-related IP. Although some critics think that would be an uphill battle for Apple, Tim Cook was adamant in Apple’s position: ‘We are watching the landscape. We like competition as long as they don’t rip off our IP. And if they do, we will go after anyone who does.’ It doesn’t get any clearer than that,” Neo reports.
Full article with much more, including patent application illustrations, here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Brawndo Drinker” for the heads up.]
