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Apple Watch design wins patent on look and feel
C-Net News ^ | May 5, 2015 11:46 AM PDT | by Don Reisinger 2015

Posted on 05/05/2015 10:19:15 PM PDT by Swordmaker

The patent -- which ensures the design for the Apple Watch cannot be copied by a competitor -- was filed in August of last year, just weeks ahead of its unveiling.


The Apple Watch's design is now officially protected by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

The USPTO on Tuesday issued a design patent on the Apple Watch look and feel. The design patent filing provides precious little information, but includes several sketches showing the device from all angles, including from the top, side and underneath the face where the sensor and charging apparatus sit.

Getting a design patent is an important step in protecting an invention. Apple's newly delivered patent means other companies cannot copy the design of its wearable. It doesn't, however, prevent other companies from delivering products that are similar, but not identical in design.

Interestingly, the design patent was filed with the USPTO in August 2014, just weeks before Apple unveiled its smartwatch at an event in September. Likely in an effort to hide its plans, Apple named its patent simply "Electronic device."

The Apple Watch, which requires an iPhone 5 or later to run basic apps and receive notifications, is Apple's first foray into the wearables space, and a pricey one at that. It tops out at $17,000 for the 18-karat gold edition, with more modestly priced options like the Apple Watch Sport, which starts at $349.

The smartwatch market had been ticking quietly for several years, with occasional flutters on rumors of an impending watch from Apple. The Apple Watch went on sale last month, and analysts have contended that it is the spark that the market has been waiting for.

Competitors include a range of new or updated smartwatches from companies including Sony, Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, LG and Pebble. The Apple Watch's health-tracking capabilities also mean that consumers will be weighing it against fitness bands from the likes of Fitbit and Microsoft.

Unlike with iPhone launches, Apple has not yet disclosed initial sales figures. The smartwatch has been back-ordered since presales started April 10, and many would-be buyers won't receive their Apple Watches until June or even July. It's unclear how much of the delay is due to the strength of the demand and how much is because of supply shortages and manufacturing issues.

Apple Watch's design has been generally viewed positively, with CNET's Reviews team saying it's "the most ambitious, well-constructed smartwatch ever seen." Like most smartwatches, the Apple Watch comes with a rectangular touchscreen and is offered in three flavors -- a low-cost Sport model, the standard model, and a gold-plated Edition version. Since the basic design and form factor are identical across the product line, the design patent covers all versions.

According to the design patent documentation, Apple's intellectual property is good for 14 years.

Apple declined to comment on the patent.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: apple; invention
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To: Swordmaker

“... the economic system in China can no longer be described as “communist” as they are embracing Capitalism.”

Bingo. The top layer of communism is simply only a control layer that is being “corrupted” by capitalism. :-)


61 posted on 05/06/2015 6:33:01 AM PDT by SgtHooper (Anyone who remembers the 60's, wasn't there!)
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To: FredZarguna
The Framers of the Constitution are spinning in their graves like dervishes over the kinds of things that can now be copyrighted, trademarked, and patented. It's a disgrace, and Apple is one of the worst offenders on the planet.

I too think the copyright and patent systems have been degraded and abused by vested interests. They no longer resemble their intended function, and now serve mostly to empower rent-seekers and their descendants.

62 posted on 05/06/2015 6:35:00 AM PDT by DiogenesLamp
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To: GeronL

T? Piker! Go for e which is the most commonly used letter in english and you get royalties from the calculus crowd too.


63 posted on 05/06/2015 6:46:45 AM PDT by xp38
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To: ctdonath2

These Dick Tracy knockoff watches are going to be used, abused, fiddled with, used for bizarre sex games, stomped on and sent back to Tim Kook for refunds. Why? After all the hype from the fabulous fanbois this lamer watch sells for $300 but only gives you $10 worth of value same as the inexpensive Casios like this one

CASIO F91W-1 Casual Sport Watch
http://www.amazon.com/CASIO-F91W-1-Casual-Sport-Watch/dp/B00006I551


64 posted on 05/06/2015 7:51:48 AM PDT by dennisw (The first principle is to find out who you are then you can achieve anything -- Buddhist monk)
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To: Ethan Clive Osgoode

And the point of your undated photo of under a 1,000 school children doing calisthenics making their national flag is? That proves nothing about their economic system in a country of 1.6 Billion people. It is the equivalent of a 1000 word anecdote trying to overcome the facts I presented. . . without providing any context.


65 posted on 05/06/2015 11:12:02 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users contnue...)
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To: dennisw
The real growth industry in ChiCom China is supplying trampolines and nets outside Apple slave workers dormitories to cushion their suicide attempts

More lies from the serial liar of the Apple Threads.

66 posted on 05/06/2015 11:13:23 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users contnue...)
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To: DiogenesLamp; FredZarguna
That is actually pretty funny. It reminds me of Apple suing Samsung for the Ipad. It's not like someone hadn't already thought of the idea back in 1968. :)

From the movie, "2001: a Space Oddessy"

Samsung tried to use that image as examples of "prior art" and it was roundly rejected by the courts. The whole purpose of bringing it up was propaganda for public consumption and you and a lot of others bought it. Prior art has to be in the area of the invention, not fiction, just showing that someone thought an idea might be a cool thing in the future. "Prior Art" is a term in law which has a specific meaning, not the public mistaken concept that you just put up here. Apple even brought in the FX people in "2001: a Space Odyssey" who testified that below that table was three feet of television equipment to achieve that effect, . . and that those "tablets" were built into the table, and were not in any way portable, and all illusion. Apple won almost $1Billion from Samsung in that lawsuit. Sorry, no banana.

Facts are difficult things.

67 posted on 05/06/2015 11:25:20 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users contnue...)
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To: dennisw
These Dick Tracy knockoff watches are going to be used, abused, fiddled with, used for bizarre sex games, stomped on and sent back to Tim Kook for refunds. Why? After all the hype from the fabulous fanbois this lamer watch sells for $300 but only gives you $10 worth of value same as the inexpensive Casios like this one

But. . .but. . . but. . . (pun intended) YOU said you stomped yours you several times claimed you bought . . . and sent it back to Cook for a refund. . . You've again outed yourself!

68 posted on 05/06/2015 11:29:17 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users contnue...)
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To: Swordmaker
Samsung tried to use that image as examples of "prior art" and it was roundly rejected by the courts.

As has been normal marriage. Appealing to "Authority" is not much of an argument.

The whole purpose of bringing it up was propaganda for public consumption and you and a lot of others bought it.

And why not? It makes the very obvious point that Apple didn't think of the idea. Apple didn't even exist in 1968.

Prior art has to be in the area of the invention, not fiction, just showing that someone thought an idea might be a cool thing in the future. "Prior Art" is a term in law which has a specific meaning, not the public mistaken concept that you just put up here. Apple even brought in the FX people in "2001: a Space Odyssey" who testified that below that table was three feet of television equipment to achieve that effect, . . and that those "tablets" were built into the table, and were not in any way portable, and all illusion.

I don't think anyone believed that those tablet computers were real, or that people were actually in space, or that the giant super computer psychotic killing machine was real either. What you have put forth here is an example of the fallacy where someone says something that is factually true, but does not actually support the point in contention.

The Technology to create those tablets did not exist in 1968, but this does not at all address the point that conceptually the idea existed long before Apple.

Apple won almost $1Billion from Samsung in that lawsuit.

As a conservative, you are no doubt familiar with the general attitude of conservatives regarding courts and their all too common miscarriages of justice. I do not know enough details about this particular court case to say this verdict is just flat out wrong, but from the details I do know, it certainly seems to be wrong.

If Samsung ripped off something Apple developed which was unique and proprietary, then that is one thing, but it certainly looks like Apple sued someone for copying the wheel.

69 posted on 05/06/2015 11:49:53 AM PDT by DiogenesLamp
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To: Swordmaker

The design and look/feel is about as exciting as a common toothpick.


70 posted on 05/06/2015 11:53:21 AM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: Swordmaker
Quote: Your example LED watch is plastic with four button controls, square, not rectangular, and has non-removable straps. Try understanding design patents, Fred.

*******************

These are all rectangular (square is a rectangle ,, or have you forgotten) , have various numbers of control buttons and all have removable straps... I've never seen a wristwatch of any kind that doesn't...


71 posted on 05/06/2015 1:09:18 PM PDT by Neidermeyer ("Our courts should not be collection agencies for crooks." — John Waihee, Governor of Hawaii, 1986-)
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To: Swordmaker
OH , just so I don't forget to mention it ,, that strap attachment design they got a patent on ... you might want to look at Dell laptop chargers ... I have several dating from 2015 back to about 2010 ,,, ALL of them have the same strap design as the iWatch , of course on the chargers it is used to hold the cables after you wrap/bundle them up... But it is definitely the same design , attaches and latches the exact same way... The only difference is that on the Dell it's a single wraparound that snaps onto itself instead of using 2 pieces...

Replacement DELL Laptop charger cable strap (not inserted in charger brick)


72 posted on 05/06/2015 1:17:26 PM PDT by Neidermeyer ("Our courts should not be collection agencies for crooks." — John Waihee, Governor of Hawaii, 1986-)
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To: Ethan Clive Osgoode; Swordmaker

Quote : Look and feel is for homos.
**********************
Careful Ethan ,, I made the mistake of addressing a post to Swordmaker with “You Go Girl” and he became offended because he assumed that I should know his gender although he has not created an “about” page ,,, he didn’t recognize it as a simple colloquialism acknowledging his assertiveness on a subject...

While I agree with your sentiment about look and feel Swordmaker has declared that he is from California and your observations about look and feel patents could make someone from that state “uncomfortable” and that is to be avoided.


73 posted on 05/06/2015 1:23:23 PM PDT by Neidermeyer ("Our courts should not be collection agencies for crooks." — John Waihee, Governor of Hawaii, 1986-)
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To: Cementjungle
The design and look/feel is about as exciting as a common toothpick.

Careful with that. Next thing you know, the toothpick manufacturers will have to pay license fees and the price of toothpicks will go up.

74 posted on 05/06/2015 1:27:23 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: Swordmaker
Facts are difficult things.

Especially when you have none on your side.

I didn't claim that the fictional devices in 2001 constituted prior art.

Learn to read.

75 posted on 05/06/2015 1:48:01 PM PDT by FredZarguna (On your deathbed you will receive total consciousness. So I got that goin' for me.)
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To: Neidermeyer; Ethan Clive Osgoode
Swordy thinks literally everything is microaggression, so trying to steer clear of her hot-buttons is a wasted exercise.
76 posted on 05/06/2015 1:50:31 PM PDT by FredZarguna (On your deathbed you will receive total consciousness. So I got that goin' for me.)
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To: Cementjungle
The design and look/feel is about as exciting as a common toothpick.

Ten dollar Casios look better and are more useful in the real world. I posted a link (above) to a good one on Amazon. The Apple fanbois get ripped off for this $300 clunker so are wearing sh_t eating grins to trick others into buying one so that Apples stock price doesn't plummet into the basement.

77 posted on 05/06/2015 2:10:14 PM PDT by dennisw (The first principle is to find out who you are then you can achieve anything -- Buddhist monk)
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Comment #78 Removed by Moderator

Comment #79 Removed by Moderator

To: FredZarguna

it’s innocuous commonplaces taken as “offensive” by paranoid morons.
****************
Yes , that’s a better answer. You supply the left jab , I deliver the straight right...

I wasn’t joking about Dell legal...

That patent troll mentality of Apple that anything and everything begins and ends with apple and that they can patent something as imbecilic as not having sharp corners to make tossing the device in your pocket easier and less painful really annoys me... Apple didn’t invent the computer or the microprocessor ... Their desktop OS is a UNIX variant since I think V9.something , the phone and tablet are just the same device shrunk... and they destroyed the usefulness of the portable MP3 player by making it only capable of getting content through iTunes. I’m putting music on a USB memory stick right now ,, only $12 and it works better with my car stereo than ANY iPod at any price.

I like their toys ,, they’re good but they are nothing earthshattering ,, just fine tuned and artsy versions of existing products ,, like comparing a Porsche (apple) to a Chevy (Samsung) ... I make money on Apple ,, to me that is the only reason to care about them.. I buy used GSM iPhone 3gs’s (and higher) and ship them overseas where people are really into this “gotta have the apple logo” crapola...


80 posted on 05/06/2015 3:34:26 PM PDT by Neidermeyer ("Our courts should not be collection agencies for crooks." — John Waihee, Governor of Hawaii, 1986-)
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