Sony Ericsson's vague patent application making Samsung nervous?
Oh Samsung, you're not going to be happy about this one. Sony Ericsson is attempting to patent a device all too similar to the i7 PMP you launched in January 2007. Filed on November 14th, 2006, the SE application ambiguously dubbed "Mobile information terminal apparatus and method of controlling the same" seems to have the gaming / cellphone combination as its primary focus yet extends to cover multimedia as well. They are also attempting to patent the rotary support mechanism: rotate the display by 90-degree increments to automatically switch between game, camera, TV or video, and phone modes. Of course, the i7 PMP only offers three modes depending upon the angle of rotation: camera, PMP, and MP3 player. Still, we imagine Samsung's patent application is just as ambiguously worded. We'll see how the new, tougher USPTO rules on something which appears to be an obvious improvement to existing technology.
[Via Unwired View]
