Apple Licenses Clock

[Renegade]

This is kind of funny:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/12/apple-ios-6-clock_n_1961115.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

Apple iOS 6 Clock Deal Stuck: iPhones And iPads Get To Keep Their Clocks

Apple, sensitive about protecting its own designs, has struck a deal to use Swiss railway operator SBB's trademark station clock design on iPads and iPhones.

SBB, which holds the trademark for a 1944 design by Zurich-born engineer Hans Hilfiker, said last month it might challenge the U.S. company after the clock appeared on a new operating system for the iPad.

"For the use of the clockface on certain Apple devices such as iPads and iPhones, the parties have negotiated an arrangement that enables Apple to use the SBB station clock under a licence agreement," SBB said on Friday.

The cost of the licensing fee and further detail of the agreement will remain confidential.

It's even funnier when they refuse to license telecommunications technologies from other patent holders, but will license a design for a clock.

[zridling]

I don't think SBB would have minded so much if Apple wasn't such a dick with their own patents and trademarks. If the shoe were on the other foot, I'm sure Apple would have sued SBB into oblivion.

On the flip side, I didn't think you could trademark a clock face design. Isn't that too similar to trying to copyright a "form"?

[mouser]

Isn't that too similar to trying to copyright a "form"?

please don't give them any ideas.