Hi folks!

I am very worried about someone (person or company) getting a patent over gestures that can be used in a multitouch interface.

What I want to start to discuss here is the consequences of this ownership, because I’m was thinking if any one who is developing a multitouch application will have to pay royalties to
apple, for the only reason that the application will be interpreting a gesture that is already in their dictionary.

I believe that the gestures that a human being can do with his own body and the meaning of it, can’t belong to anyone.

It’s something that belongs to all.

One of this days someone can get a patent of the human movements for breathing and then any one will have to pay royalties to do it.

What do you think about it folks ?

[]’s

Gerson Tessler

I have a gesture for patent freaks and their troll liars, can you guess it.

Where is the patent application document? Without seeing evidence I don’t believe they can patent a gesture. Patents are for technologies only. and even then, you can only patent a specific implementation of that technology. Also patents aren’t global, so they only apply to the country which approved the patent application.

Folks,

I’ve got some in information on the following links:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/02/apple-patent-attack-the-multi-touch-gesture-dictionary/

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1="20070177803".PGNR.&OS=DN/20070177803&RS=DN/20070177803

http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2008085784&IA=US2007089161&DISPLAY=DESC

http://www.macobserver.com/article/2008/07/03.9.shtml

Or just type “multitouch gesture dictionary “ on google.

After all if Apple or other company or an indivual person want to get a patent over a technology they or he developed is Ok. If we’re talking about sofwtare, hardware, an innovative algorithm...ok.

Imagine if someone get a patent over music chords. In that case he can claim for royalts every time someone want to write a song using that notation.

I beleive that this kind of of thing generates restriction over the freedom of the creative process and expression.

Imagine the case when you develop some new kind of algorithm that improves gesture reconigtion time in let’s say...100%.
You are free to request a patent for that mothod. It’s Ok.

But if someone else already get a patent over the gesture reconigtion it self, then you probably will have to pay royalties to use, sell or even develop software, using your own algorithm.

Again, that’s what I think about it. I’m not a patent expert and maybe I could be wrong in many points. Sorry for my mistakes.

I just think that people at the NIU Group should discuss this things, because they affect all of us.

[]’s

Gerson Tessler

Well, apple doesn’t have patents for these things. They might be trying though. There’s not much we could do about it and really it wouldn’t matter too much since patents are really a joke today and there’s many ways of getting around them. As for patenting things that are already made, like chords, etc that falls under ‘prior art’ and therefore you can’t just go patent it as if you made it. It’s not something to get overly concerned about in my opinion especially since I don’t really think they’ll get full approval for a patent that protects all gestures (especially since there’s already prior art dealing with this stuff).

Lord Inquisitor - 04 November 2008 11:36 AM

I have a gesture for patent freaks and their troll liars, can you guess it.

Dear Lord Inquisitor, is that special gesture for me?

[]’s

Gerson Tessler

cerupcat - 04 November 2008 01:59 PM

Well, apple doesn’t have patents for these things. They might be trying though. There’s not much we could do about it and really it wouldn’t matter too much since patents are really a joke today and there’s many ways of getting around them. As for patenting things that are already made, like chords, etc that falls under ‘prior art’ and therefore you can’t just go patent it as if you made it. It’s not something to get overly concerned about in my opinion especially since I don’t really think they’ll get full approval for a patent that protects all gestures (especially since there’s already prior art dealing with this stuff).

Dear cerupcat,

Thanks for your thoughts about it.
I think that your are completly right about it.

[]’s

Gerson Tessler

Gerson Tessler - 04 November 2008 02:03 PM

Lord Inquisitor - 04 November 2008 11:36 AM

I have a gesture for patent freaks and their troll liars, can you guess it.

Dear Lord Inquisitor, is that special gesture for me?

[]’s

Gerson Tessler

If your a troll yes, otherwise of course not no offence meant to your personally.