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Apple countersues headphone maker Koss in AirPods patent dispute
It claims the inventor of stereo headphones didn't have the right to sue.
Koss sues Apple and Bose for allegedly copying wireless headphone tech
Koss is suing Apple, Bose and three other companies for allegedly copying its wireless headphone technology from the 2000s.
Apple gets a patent for taking group selfies while you're socially distant
Apple has received a patent for creating group selfies when your friends are miles away.
AI can't be legally credited as an inventor, says USPTO
Patent law only allows 'natural persons' to be credited, the agency determined.
Apple will pay $18 million to settle broken FaceTime suit
Apple has agreed to pay $18 million to settle a case accusing the company of intentionally breaking FaceTime on iOS 6.
US ITC to probe Apple and Samsung over touchscreen patent complaint
The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has announced that it will launch a probe on Apple, Samsug and other tech companies that manufacture certain touch devices. Its decision was prompted by a complaint filed by Ireland-based company Neodron, which accused several device manufacturers of infringing on its touchscreen-related patents.
Sharp sues Vizio over display tech in 70-inch TVs
Sharp, the Japanese electronics company behind the world's largest 8K LCD TV, is suing Vizio and two other companies over alleged patent infringement. Sharp claims that the companies infringed 12 patents related to panel technologies, like liquid crystal displays (LCD). In particular, Sharp says one of Vizio's 70-inch TVs is an offender. Sharp is seeking an injunction, as well as compensation for lost profits and the use of its technology.
US opens investigation into Google amid Sonos patent suit
It's been about a month since Sonos sued Google for allegedly violating some of its patents behind syncing wireless speakers, and now the US government is getting involved. The US International Trade Commission today announced that it had voted to investigate whether Google and its parent company Alphabet have imported patent-infringing products into the country. To be clear, this doesn't mean the US government has decided that Google has violated Sonos' patents -- but whether or not those patents were violated should fall under the scope of this investigation.
Huawei sues Verizon after patent talks break down
Huawei and Verizon's not-very-public feud has escalated into courtroom warfare as the telecoms company files lawsuits across Texas. Huawei is alleging that Verizon is infringing on its networking patents without paying the proper fees, and it wants "compensation for Verizon's use of patented technology." The Chinese giant says it began talking to Verizon on February 7th, 2019, but talks broke down on January 21st, 2020. The apparent breakdown prompted the legal broadside, with claims filed in both the Eastern and Western district of Texas.
Dyson patents a wearable air purifier that doubles as headphones
If you use public transportation, you know just how gross the air can be. Commuters are constantly coughing and sneezing, which releases thousands of germs into the air. Taking a flight can be even worse, thanks to the recycled air. And that's not to mention pollution-filled cities like Wuhan in China, or even Los Angeles. Wearing a face mask can help prevent you from breathing in those germs and pollutants, but they're not very effective, and they're not exactly socially acceptable. Air purifiers that hang around your neck are subtler, but they're even less beneficial. Dyson's patent for a new type of purifier describes a product that merges an air purification system with a set of headphones for an effective but somewhat subtle solution to staying healthy in germ- or pollution-filled settings.
Apple envisions a Mac made from a sheet of curved glass
Apple is known to explore unusual Mac designs, but its latest may be more eye-catching than most. The company has applied for a patent on a desktop Mac design whose main body consists of a single, curved sheet of glass -- a wedge at the back could both house processing components and prop up the design. A slot at the bottom center would let you slot a keyboard through, and Apple even envisions the possibility of altering the curve to adjust the display angle or fold the system shut.
Court overturns patent ruling that would've cost Nintendo $10 million
After almost seven years, Nintendo has won a patent case that involved the original Wii. On Tuesday, the company announced that a federal court in Dallas ruled in its favor against iLife Technologies, overturning an earlier 2017 decision that would have forced Nintendo to pay out $10.1 million in damages.
New York doctor sues Apple over irregular heartbeat detection
The heart monitoring technology inside the Apple Watch may be useful for scientific studies and even saving lives, but one doctor believes it's also straight-up theft. New York University cardiologist Dr. Joseph Wiesel has sued Apple over allegations the Watch violates a patented method for detecting atrial fibrillation. Wiesel claimed that he shared details of the patent with Apple in September 2017, but that the company "refused to negotiate in good faith" and left him no choice but to file a lawsuit.
Sony patent may show a familiar-looking controller for the PS5
While Sony is still about a year away from releasing its next-generation console, we may have just gotten an early look at the device's new controller. Newly published images by Japan's patent office that were first spotted by VGC may provide some clues as to what to expect from the peripheral.
Apple tried and failed to break RED's stranglehold on RAW video
RED has claimed victory in the latest battle over its patent on RAW video, this time against a mighty plaintiff: Apple. The dispute started earlier this year, when Apple set out to overturn RED's patent on RedCode RAW in a possible effort to avoid paying royalties on its ProRes RAW codec. A patent court ruled that Apple "has not shown a reasonable likelihood that it would prevail" with claims that RED's original 2007 patent was obvious and shouldn't have been issued in the first place.
Samsung patent application showcases AR headset design
When websites like Engadget report on patents, typically all you see accompanying the applications are line diagrams that give a faint idea of what a tech company is working on. Not so with a recently discovered application from Samsung, which includes a 3D render of an augmented reality (AR) headset. According to Galaxy Club, which was the first to spot the patent, the headset features projection screens in each lens. Additionally, one diagram depicts a wire on the right side of the device -- though the purpose of the cable isn't clear.
Apple patent application describes touchscreen keyboards you can feel
More than 10 years after the first iPhone, it's safe to say most people are used to typing on on-screen keyboards. But that doesn't they couldn't be made better, and it looks like someone at Apple is thinking about ways to do just that. Patently Apple pointed out a patent application where the company describes a technology that could allow virtual keyboards to more easily mimic their traditional mechanical counterparts.
Microsoft is considering foldable devices with liquid-filled hinges
Microsoft's dreams of dual-screen devices aren't disappearing any time soon. A recent patent filing from the company details a clamshell device concept whose hinge is filled with a liquid or gas to reduce strain on a foldable display and prevent debris from getting inside -- both sore points for foldables as of late. You could close this shut without worrying quite so much about wear and tear.
Nintendo explores 'bendable' Switch controllers
Nintendo is apparently concerned that the Switch's Joy-Con controllers might not be flexible enough. The console maker recently applied for a US patent on Joy-Cons with hinges that would let the top half "bend" to provide a more ergonomic grip. This would work whether or not the controllers are attached -- side sections would let you slide them on to the Switch's rails.
Apple Watch bands may one day identify you by skin pattern
The United States Patent and Trademark Office just granted a trio of patents to Apple for Apple Watch smart bands. While bands with the features detailed in the filings might never reach retail shelves, they give an intriguing look at what Apple may have in store.
