The broader significance is that the big players in the industry can be challenged, as Google has done, but it looks as if that may be the last. The big guys have circled the wagons and will win unless the patent law gets changed. Chances?
Against Monopoly
defending the right to innovate
Software Patents
Monopoly corrupts. Absolute monopoly corrupts absolutely.
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With its patent, Apple can stick it to you with two fingers
APPLE has now received a patent for two fingered gestures on a touchscreen according to this link here and to a much more extensive set of claims by another interpretation link here. For the rest of us, it would appear there is loads of prior art that would preclude granting such a patent but the Patent Office seems unable to resist granting them and extending the monopoly farther and farther. But why should two finger gestures get patented while one finger ones don't?
[Posted at 07/04/2011 06:05 PM by John Bennett on Software Patents 
comments(1)]
Comments
Apple has been patenting their technology hot and heavy since the early 1980's. As I see it, SSDD - same s___, different day. Seems as though someone quoted Steve Jobs erroneous statement that it was supposedly easier in the "early" days, meaning the first year Apple was in business. After that, the patent filings began.
[Comment at 07/04/2011 09:44 PM by Ayn Ran Was Right]
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