David W Studeman wrote:
> 4phun wrote:
>
>> http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscell...itouch_patents
>>
>> Is pinching proprietary? We may find out in the coming months as many
>> companies, inspired by the success of Apple's iPhone, release their
>> own multitouch-enabled laptops, smartphones and tablets. In doing so,
>> these companies -- including RIM, Nokia and Synaptics -- may run afoul
>> of multitouch patent applications recently filed by Apple.
>>
>> "If Apple's patents are granted, the company could absolutely stop
>> others from using similar technology," says Raj Abhyanker, a patent
>> lawyer who used to write patent applications for Apple. "They'd also
>> be in an especially good position to stop others from including
>> certain features. Apple could stop [their use] not only on mobile
>> devices but also desktops."
>>
>>
>> Long article at the link , bottom line - no copying of the iPhone
>> interface which will be an Apple exclusive for mobile devices! No
>> Apple products for Verizon or Sprint using this new easy to use user
>> interface.
>
>
> It's been around for a few decades now. Apple did not invent any new
> technology here, they packaged a combination of it.

The real questions are a) whether a patent of the combination of those
technologies is in itself patentable, and b) if Apple was the first
company to combine them.