news Apple Wants to Patent Its MacBook Air Design

[butilikethecookie]

http://news.cnet.com...0020535-64.html

I stand corrected. Wedge shaped computers did exist post 2007 :|

[.Neo]

And the iPad is another case where there were designs beforehand that looked very, very similar.

You sure about that?

http://osxdaily.com/...-after-ipad.jpg

[bj55555]

You sure about that?

http://osxdaily.com/...-after-ipad.jpg

Designed before the iPad was released: http://tctechcrunch.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/cdba.jpg?w=640

Check the date: http://techcrunch.com/2009/06/03/crunchpad-the-launch-prototype/

Evolutionary convergence. Happens all the time. Especially when manufacturers all use the same suppliers for their components.

[Hell-In-A-Handbasket]

Designed before the iPad was released: http://tctechcrunch.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/cdba.jpg?w=640

Check the date: http://techcrunch.com/2009/06/03/crunchpad-the-launch-prototype/

Evolutionary convergence. Happens all the time. Especially when manufacturers all use the same suppliers for their components.

Crunch pad was vaporware I thought, there is a difference between prototype and actually released. The automobile industry is proof of that?

Edit 2 - and if designs are counted, then you have to go all the way back to the scifi writers and all the way back to roman times for the invention of everything, and attribute almost everything to Rodenberry and people like him. 2 different things to design something and not release it due to being a risky design, or design something and release it. There have been TONS of designs from manufactures of various things that I think is awesome and cool, but they don't release it because it's not a garanteed sell to the masses

Edit - I was wrong, the crunchpad became the JooJoo tablet, which entered production in 2010, it received its funding AFTER the release of the iPad! And we don't know when the iPad was originally designed due to apples secrecy

[giga Veteran]

The Sony does not have the same ornamental design as the Air. Are you guys familiar with design patents? They protect the exact design of the item that's being patented. There are clear differences between that Sony ultraportable. The specific ports and their location, the colors and material, the slit on the front to open the lid, the trackpad, the black hinge, and so on.

This patent is for protection against things like this:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/kirf-macbook-air-is-the-prettiest-netbook-weve-seen-today/

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/29/not-so-ultimate-ultrabook-macbook-air-kirf-features-mini-hdmi-p/

Design patents are pretty common in the industry. Google has a design patent on the ornamental design of Google Maps. Microsoft has plenty too: https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=pts&hl=en&q=%3D+inassignee:microsoft#q=%3D+inassignee:microsoft&hl=en&tbm=pts&source=lnt&tbs=ptst:d&sa=X&ei=_BOcT5X0CY7qtgfM-c2mBA&ved=0CBIQpwUoAg&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=63d447bc9b4478da&biw=1100&bih=960

[giga Veteran]

If they applied for the patent when it was released, then it would make sense...but they didn't

The USPTO uses a first to invent--not first to file--system.

[Ci7]

They should! In 2007 (08, 09?) when this first came out, how many computers did you see that looked like that?

Answer: None.

Put yourself in their shoes: You spent millions of dollars investing and creating the design wouldn't you want to be the only company that sells that? Hell yeah you would!

No: I'm not an Apple fanboy...I use Windows 8....Just getting that out of the way now to avoid confusion :)

they should had patented it while they are prototyping it or at release time

not now! they are trying to troll other companies

[BumbleBritches57]

I stand corrected. Wedge shaped computers did exist post 2007 :|

Yeah, the Dell Studio 17 was wedge shaped a few years ago too, that's not hardly revolutionary, what WAS revolutionary, was how thin it was. lmfao anyone remember those ads of it being pulled out of a damn envelope?!

[Hell-In-A-Handbasket]

Yeah, the Dell Studio 17 was wedge shaped a few years ago too, that's not hardly revolutionary, what WAS revolutionary, was how thin it was. lmfao anyone remember those ads of it being pulled out of a damn envelope?!

Lol yea, Manilla InterOffice Envelope was a popular case for it. Lol

[Hell-In-A-Handbasket]

they should had patented it while they are prototyping it or at release time

not now! they are trying to troll other companies

The problem with that is their Anal Secrecy practices, people go to the patent office all the time to look for new products. Why Apple times their announcements to coincide around the same time FCC gets ahold of it, because it FCC puts it up. ( I see a lot of stuff on engadget and Gizmodo of FCC listings

[BumbleBritches57]

The problem with that is their Anal Secrecy practices, people go to the patent office all the time to look for new products. Why Apple times their announcements to coincide around the same time FCC gets ahold of it, because it FCC puts it up. ( I see a lot of stuff on engadget and Gizmodo of FCC listings

The FCC puts up with it becasue they're reasonable, and being the biggest company in the world doesn't hurt either lol

[Stetson]

The Sony does not have the same ornamental design as the Air. Are you guys familiar with design patents? They protect the exact design of the item that's being patented. There are clear differences between that Sony ultraportable. The specific ports and their location, the colors and material, the slit on the front to open the lid, the trackpad, the black hinge, and so on.

This patent is for protection against things like this:

http://www.engadget....eve-seen-today/

http://www.engadget....es-mini-hdmi-p/

Design patents are pretty common in the industry. Google has a design patent on the ornamental design of Google Maps. Microsoft has plenty too: https://www.google.c...iw=1100&bih=960

Your logic and reason is not welcome here!