HTC representative Jeff Gordon tells The Verge that the company "does not expect this license agreement to have any adverse material impact on the financials of the company".
I don't read that, but what I did read was the CEOs of both Apple and HTC agreeing that without the worry of patent litigation that BOTH of their companies would be capable of innovating instead of fighting.
I think I'll take this as an admission by both Apple and HTC that patents inhibit innovation.
why would you think so? the details are not known, and HTC has some 4G patents that it was planning to use against Apple if Apple ever decides to use 4G (iPhone 5). for me this sounds more like a stalemate situation between HTC and Apple.
I didn't mean claims in direct terms of patent claims, but rather this action might force Samsung's hand.
I didn't really know about the LTE patents, so yes, I see a stalemate situation.
you do know that it was settled between Apple and SBB ( which probably included the paying of this money ) and no "ordering" was done by anyone anywhere ?
What gaffe? I'm sure Apple has paid much greater licensing fee's to other companies for their intellectual property. What do you think it cost them to pay for "iPhone" (a cisco trademark?) Or purchasing a license for one-click-payment from amazon? Or any of hundreds of other IP purchases that Apple makes.
I don't know if I would have considered the clock worth $22mm, but I do have to admit, it's beautiful. Before Apple released their clock App, I ended up paying $5.00 for an App that was roughly equivalent in functionality, though nowhere near as gorgeous.
All in All - $22mm was probably seen by Apple as the right price to license one of the worlds most beautiful clock designs.
It was a gaffe because they stole the design and got a license only after being called out publicly by the Swiss. All the while being involved in huge law suits with companies who they claim stole their look and feel. Do as I say, not as I do...
Apple is extraordinarily sophisticated when it comes to IP issues. Any artwork or homages that they've placed in their product are either (A) Cleared for coverage or (B) Have some path to such.
Anything you see in IOS is akin to a song that would hear in a movie or a TV Show - hundreds of hours, if not thousands, have gone into ensuring the legality/coverage of all of the major elements that you see there.
Don't for a second believe that Apple didn't already have a negotiating position, and value, and best-negotiable-alternative (BNA) identified prior to placing that swiss clock into IOS.
This isn't their first, second, or even hundredth time at this particular rodeo.
The games that HTC/Google/Motorola/Apple/Samsung are also, all playing out according to a well known IP strategy. Each of the parties is acquiring IP, establishing their patent positions/strength, going to court where needed, and engaging in settlements likewise.
At the level which these companies play - their is no "Steal", simply a stronger (or weaker) game theoretic negotiating position which plays out...
Anybody how has legal bills in excess of $100 million a year has left the realm of good/bad, and moved into win/lose/profit/loss.
Easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission?
They're sitting on 120 Billion dollars. 22 million is only 0.183% or that. I have a hard time believing they intentionally made such a hypocritical move to save 22 million dollars.
There are something like 400 million iPhones in the world. So that’s 5¢ per. Not trivial, but not exactly breaking Apple’s bank. In return they get a really nice clock design.
I wonder if the techpress and commenters as well as SBB will seek damages from Marie-Odile del Carlo (http://www.appcode.fr/horlogesuisse.html) whose clock app was released free of charge in March of 2011 or Thomas Feger, who released his app in 2009 and charges 99 cents a pop? Or is it different because they aren't Apple or A.N Other faceless multinational?
After the recent management reshuffle, could this be a sign of Apple backing away from all the patent crazyness? The article implies the settlement was two-way and not very big.
Not sure what the downvoters tried to show, but above statement is simply self obvious. Patent aggressors (which Apple is) relent only under the threat of defensive patent action. Thus, comparison with MAD is natural and expected. Don't be disillusioned, thinking that Apple is all white and furry. It has teeth, and hides them only when scared that they'll be beaten out.
HTC representative Jeff Gordon tells The Verge that the company "does not expect this license agreement to have any adverse material impact on the financials of the company".
http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/10/3629376/apple-and-htc-set...