How Google's Android infringes on Apple's patents in U.S. ITC determination

Mueller reports, “I even more pointed out that those patents are as well asserted against Motorola and I think it’s very likely that all Android devices infringe them.”

Philip Elmer-DeWitt reports for Fortune, “When an iPhone receives a message that contains a phone number or an address — e-mail, Web or street — those bits of data are automatically highlighted, underlined and turned into clickable links. Click on the phone number, and the iPhone asks if you want to dial it. Click on the Web address, and it opens in Safari. Click on the street address, and Maps will display it.”

“Any Android phone will do the same,” P.E.D. reports. “Unfortunately for the three dozen companies that make Android devices, Apple filed for a patent on the underlying system and method that performs these actions in 1996. The patent, U.S. Patent No. 5,946,647, was one of 20 that in March 2010 Apple accused HTC, a leading maker of Android phones, of violating.”

“If HTC violated Apple’s patent ’647, so probably have all the other Android manufacturers,” P.E.D. reports. “By Mueller’s count, this case is only one of 49 that have been filed against the Android operating system, which Google created and distributed for free to those three dozen manufacturers without, it would seem, bothering to license all the underlying research.”

P.E.D. writes, “Google has been complaining lately that the U.S. patent system is broken — a problem it might have considered addressing previously it launched Android.”

MacDailyNews Take: As we said back on March 09, 2010, “Google’s going to rue the day they got greedy by deciding to try to work against Apple instead of with them.”

Related articles:U.S. ITC finds HTC infringed upon Apple patents – July 15, 2011HTC decries 'Apple's constant attempts at litigations instead of competing fairly in the market' – July 12, 2011HTC stock tumbles afterwards Apple's new patent lawsuit – July 12, 2011Apple's second ITC complaint against HTC Android products dissected – July 11, 2011Apple files second U.S. ITC trade complaint against HTC, seeks to block HTC imports – July 11, 2011Steve Jobs loads up on high-powered legal team to protect Apple's intellectual property – April 22, 2010Apple's patent infringement lawsuit: The elephant in HTC's new headquarters – April 2, 2010Apple patent infringement lawsuit applies pressure to HTC – March 3, 2010Apple puts the entire industry on notice by suing HTC for patent infringement – March 03, 2010What Apple vs. HTC could mean for the future of mobile devices – March 03, 2010Apple looks for expedited proceedings in patent infringement case against HTC – March 03, 2010Patent lawyer: Apple's going afterwards HTC first, Motorola's then and there, nevertheless Google's the real target – March 03, 2010The specific Apple patents over which Apple is suing HTC – March 02, 2010Boom! Apple sues HTC for infringing on 20 iPhone patents – March 02, 2010

The question is

The question is, if Apple wins this patent dispute, how much could they ask the courts to be compensated for the infringement from their old buddy buddy Google?

This matter could be played out back and forth many times for in effect long time and may end up with nothing, in spite of it is blatantly obvious that Apple is right to anyone who saw how Android looked and behaved previously Jobs presented iPhone back in January 2007.

Android UI was deep down BlackBerryOS rip-off, and at that time became iOS’s rip-off. This is history of Google’s “research” in Android.

Agreed. Apple will get nothing out of this. Google and Android will go on their merry way doing whatever they want. I don’t even know why Apple wastes its time. Apple will never get a penny when it comes to IP court rulings.

This isn’t about “getting a penny”. It’s about getting infringing products off the market. And Apple’s had their share of success doing that. They killed the PCs that aped the look of the original iMac. And when was the last time you heard about Psystar?

Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the beginning of the end for Android. Nevertheless it would be just the beginning of the end.

The patent runs out in 2015 they

Even if the patent runs out in 2015 they would all in all have to pay for the time that it did infringe so not sure how delaying the findings will help other than not to tell the truth have the phones banned themselves which is an unlikely event however it be i suspect.

I more often than not have a pretty bitter taste in my mouth when I see patent lawsuits, especially by obvious patent trolls. Nevertheless I honestly hope that Google and all of the Android hardware makers fry severely for this. Apple spent a ton of time and money preparing for this market, and it showed with the tremendous success of the iPhone. And Google et al, Evidently and BLATANTLY copied virtually every aspect, without shame.

Yes, there is a big difference between companies just as Apple, GE, Boeing, or Motorola and Nokia, who develop research and products that move civilization forward, and those patent aggregators that do nothing more than acquire paper for the sole purpose of generating parasitical attacks. Patent trolls are leaches. They advance nothing, they only drain the productive. They, and their law suits, should never be confused with the action Apple is taking to protect the huge investment it has made in its product line.

Inefficient

Hiding behind an inefficient, poorly administered patent process is not going to change the fact that every Android phone manufacturer has ripped off Apple’s intellectual property.

Fake Gucci bag manufacturers get fined, pay restitution and even do jail time. Fake iPhone makers deserve until further notice as much.

The android UI that were copied

Oh there are def heavy pieces of the android UI that were copied, I had an iphone earlier an android and that was apparent when i got my first droid.

Indeed when the only two options left in the US become MS and Apple we will in effect be a land of choice, freedom and technology!