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Apple awarded multi-touch patent, could mean trouble for the Palm Pre

The patent covers the multi-touch user interface and gestures used on the iPhone, making it so they can't be used in other devices.

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Mobile | by Emily Price | Tue Jan 27, 2009 2:06PM | 0 comments

Apple has been awarded a patent that covers the majority of the iPhone’s multitouch user interface. The patent, which covers things such as the pinch-to-zoom, swipe-to-scroll, and web browsing methods on the phone, was filed in April and was officially awarded to the company last Tuesday.

Palm currently has plans to launch the Palm Pre, a touchscreen smartphone similar to the iPhone, in the first part of this year. In an earnings call last Thursday Apple COO Tim Cook made comments that appeared to be directed at Palm, indicating that Apple “will not stand for having our IP ripped off, and we will use whatever weapons we have at our disposal."

Palm responded the next day indicating it has a “robust patent portfolio.” Palm may have not been aware at the time that one of those “weapons” Apple had was this patent.

 

This story around the web:

Trusted sources:
external link Apple awarded key iPhone multitouch patent [CNET News.com]
external link Apple awarded multi-touch patent [Neowin.net / Main]
external link Apple Gets Their Multi-Touch Patent; Is Palm… [Mashable!]

Get more information on topics relating to this story:


Related company news:
Apple, Palm
Related devices and services:
Palm Pre, Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone 3G

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