Apple Patents the OS X Dock!!!

[VideoInPicture]

The Register news article: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/08/apple_patents_osx_dock/ says that Apple has finally received it's patent for the OS X dock and says that it could give Apple the ability to go after imitators such as Object Dock, Rocket Dock, etc. Apple's patent is shown here: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,434,177.PN.&OS=PN/7,434,177&RS=PN/7,434,177

This certainly interests me since I programmed Circle Dock. However, I think there is enough differentiation between Circle Dock and the OS X dock that I don't need to be concerned. Also, I know that there is an extensive list of prior pie menu launchers before I programmed Circle Dock so Apple's patent wouldn't apply in this case since there are so many cases of prior art.

However, it does bring concern about all the regular docking applications out there and whether their existence will continue. What do you guys think? Would Apple's patent apply to other docking applications out there?

[MrCrispy]

I hope Apple doesn't go after the other dock apps but given Apple's attitude and sue-happy legal history, I'm almost sure they will

Software patents are evil.

[Darwin]

I hope Apple doesn't go after the other dock apps but given Apple's attitude and sue-happy legal history, I'm almost sure they will

Software patents are evil.

I hope you're wrong about Apple... if you are not, I think that going after small developers is petty.

[Grorgy]

These people go after grandmothers and children, I would think developers would be just a warm up exercise 

[Dirhael]

I hope Apple doesn't go after the other dock apps but given Apple's attitude and sue-happy legal history, I'm almost sure they will

Software patents are evil.

I hope you're wrong about Apple... if you are not, I think that going after small developers is petty.

They already did this with Y'z Dock way back when.

[Darwin]

You're on fire, George! That was a fast response! You're right, though, I'm sure Apple's lawyers wouldn't even break a sweat drafting their arguments in a case like this. I have to say, though, that I can't really see what or how they are losing by having the dock replicated on other platforms. Next they'll be going after the Expose clones and the widget clones (not that they invented them but I'll bet they've got a patent application in). Of course, I'm getting ahead of myself again - they haven't done anything, yet and I hope they don't.

I hope Apple doesn't go after the other dock apps but given Apple's attitude and sue-happy legal history, I'm almost sure they will

Software patents are evil.

I hope you're wrong about Apple... if you are not, I think that going after small developers is petty.

They already did this with Y'z Dock way back when.

Oh crap!

[Carol Haynes]

Surely any application that was in existence before the patent was granted is safe from prosecution - how can you sue retrospectively?

Maybe what is a required is a class action of all dock developers against Apple's patent - given that Apple's stock is dropping like a stone currently they haven't got much incentive to waste money on frivolous law suits.

[Darwin]

Surely any application that was in existence before the patent was granted is safe from prosecution - how can you sue retrospectively?

Sadly, I am pretty sure that you CAN sue retrospectively, at least in NA court. I hope you're right, though.

[Edvard]

It looks like (from a cursory reading of the patent) that what they have patented is exactly what they've got:
Their squirmy implementation of a quick launch bar.
I'm not sure if they intend to sue anybody, it feels more like they wanted to guarantee themselves getting the patent by threatening anybody who might get the same idea. Besides, Yamaguchi (supposedly) admitted to simply cloning the dock without building in any other distinguishing features. Also, who's to say that the authors of Rocketdock, Mobydock and RKLauncher didn't get similar letters?
Do you know of any launcher-panel-with-icons-that-zoom-when-your-mouse-gets-close thingummy that existed before Apple's?
For the record, I think software patents are ridiculous and stupid, but within the confines of currently existing rules they received it legitimately.

[40hz]

Pretty cheeky for a company that based it's entire "new" OS on somebody else's kernal, core, and concept. The only original and innovative thing Apple ever did was the code for QuickDraw. And that was largely the work of one person.

Aren't these are the same guys that used to say "shame" to Microsoft for the deal they cut with Seattle Computer Products when Bill bought 86-DOS off them for only $50K, sold it to IBM as PC-DOS, and never paid SCP a penny more?

[Dirhael]

You're on fire, George! That was a fast response! You're right, though, I'm sure Apple's lawyers wouldn't even break a sweat drafting their arguments in a case like this. I have to say, though, that I can't really see what or how they are losing by having the dock replicated on other platforms. Next they'll be going after the Expose clones and the widget clones (not that they invented them but I'll bet they've got a patent application in). Of course, I'm getting ahead of myself again - they haven't done anything, yet and I hope they don't.

I hope Apple doesn't go after the other dock apps but given Apple's attitude and sue-happy legal history, I'm almost sure they will

Software patents are evil.

I hope you're wrong about Apple... if you are not, I think that going after small developers is petty.

They already did this with Y'z Dock way back when.

Oh crap!

It's interesting that they actually were granted the patent when you consider the fact that Stardock have been making docks since 1994, years before Apple implemented their version.

[wreckedcarzz]

Just another reason to hate Apple, and OSX.

*Launches OD Plus, RD, and CD*

Bring it on!

[Edvard]

It's interesting that they actually were granted the patent when you consider the fact that Stardock have been making docks since 1994, years before Apple implemented their version.

Yes, and RiscOS and NextStep were doing it even before that: http://www.osnews.com/story/18941/pt_VI_the_Dock
But did any of them have the zoomy icon function? IIRC, ObjectDock was capable, but I don't know if it did it by default.

If you read the patent, it becomes obvious that what they patented is the squirmy zoom function:

To permit a greater number of items to reside in the userbar, a magnification function can be provided which magnifies items within the userbar when they are proximate the cursor associated with the graphical user interface.

Once again, it's stupid, but the patent appears rather narrow in definition.

[40hz]

Once again UserFriendly nails it:

[attach]

[wreckedcarzz]

lmao

[Carol Haynes]

Yes, and RiscOS and NextStep were doing it even before that: http://www.osnews.com/story/18941/pt_VI_the_Dock

Actually a lot of ideas in RiscOS made it into Windows (not least the three button mouse).

[Darwin]

Apple are petty enough to sue... witness the legal action they are taking against a small computer school in Victoria, BC: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081006.wgtapple06/BNStory/Technology/home

[attachthumb=#]

Of course, if the school were forced to adopt a different logo it might not be the worst thing that ever happened to them... but what do I know?

[cranioscopical]

Apple are petty enough to sue... witness the legal action they are taking against a small computer school in Victoria, BC:

Rotten to the core... this kind of thing gives one the pip.

[Grorgy]

That's really mean of them Darwin, those 2 logos could never be confused, and unless Apple are now running schools seems to me there is absolutely no way any confusion could possibly occur.  Cranio is right, rotten to the core lol

[wreckedcarzz]

That's bullshit, through and through. "OMG WE FOUND ANOTHER LOGO USING AN APPLE, LETS SUE NOW NOW NOW!!!"

That's like Microsoft suing over the Volume Icon in windows being used on OSX and *nix systems, or the US government suing MS for the flag logo. Or NASA suing Apple because OS X 10.5 uses an image of space (real or fake). Its an intimate object, not a damn infringement (on anything). Back the f*** off.

[Darwin]

Of course... the heroes of my youth (and, as it happens, Steven Jobs' heroes as well) have resorted to similar pettiness: Apple Corps. vs. Apple Computer. From the perspective of time, this seems really silly. Perhaps lil' Stevie "Wonder" Jobs learned a thing or two from the experience?

[wreckedcarzz]

Just for show, here is my OD+ config.

Muhahahaha. No, seriously, here it is. Click for full size (600kb).

[zridling]

We truly need to nuke human society and start all over. Are there any good corporations left?

[icekin]

We truly need to nuke human society and start all over. Are there any good corporations left?

I like Canonical and what they are doing with Ubuntu. Mozilla and WikiMedia Foundation are also worthy organizations. In fact, I look forward to an wiki/open search that can challenge yahoo and google.

[fenixproductions]

2Darwin
Nice (f)article found. Here you go with another one:
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/news/2008/04/apple_vs_apple

I hope MS will never think about such stupid lawsuits because that day I will have to live in shelter with walls only (until Pink Floyd patent the rights for such word .