Apple wins patent for iPhone touch-screen controls

[milomak]

Interesting. Can these be challenged in court?


SAN FRANCISCO - Apple has won a US patent for touch-screen controls and gained a potential legal weapon against iPhone competitors. US Patent 7,479,949 is awarded to "(Steve) Jobs et al" for a method of "detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display" to command computing devices.

 

[Pyro]

Sounds like the actual gestures are being patented, not the multi-touch itself.

 

[milomak]

Sounds like the actual gestures are being patented, not the multi-touch itself.

that's what it sounded like to me

 

[Kalvaer]

Is this also only for the Iphone? What if a company impliments it on say a full sized screen?

 

[JK8]

Eish bad for other manufacturers

 

[2CentsWorth]

Is this also only for the Iphone? What if a company impliments it on say a full sized screen?

Already been done... http://multi-touchscreen.com/perceptive-pixel-jeff-han.html

This is why I asked if Apple actually invented the technology...

 

[Kalvaer]

Also so it with the Win 7 reviews http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029471,49299697,00.htm and the HP touchsmart PC.

But I thought the movie, "Minority report" had it first

I really dont see how they are going to "patent" hand and finger gestures

 

[Vegeta]

What!!! cant be! I scroll my mouse using a sweeping gesture do i have to stop now?!?!