Apple girds itself for apparent patent war 

Scrolling, rotating, and scaling on a touchscreen —like on a smartphone or tablet— have been around for years, but it's only now that Apple Inc. has obtained a patent for these gestures.

 

The patent was among US Patent and Trademark Office officially published 27 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. June 26, enthusiast site PatentlyApple.com said.

 

But tech sites including PatentlyApple.com speculated that the patents could be weapons for Apple's litigation wars with its rivals in the smartphone and tablet arenas.

 

"This looks like it could be another patent that Apple will fiercely use against their competitors," PatentlyApple.co said.

 

Such gestures on touchpads are commonplace not only on Apple's iPhone, which debuted as early as 2007, but also on smartphones and tablets made by other manufacturers.

 

Also, the gestures are commonplace as well in other platforms —such as Google's Android OS.

 

A separate article on CNET said the patents come at a time Apple is engaged in "bitter rivalries" in the smartphone industry with competitors like Samsung, Google, HTC, and Nokia.

 

"To argue that the patent system is broken is another article for another day, but with Apple receiving the grant from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for document translation, rotation, and scaling, it is safe to assume that the intellectual property battles will only heighten," it said.

 

CNET also said the patents may force Android, Windows Mobile, and touch-based operating systems for mobile devices will have to seriously consider their relationship with Apple.

 

"Can Samsung continue to sue and countersue? Can Google afford to step on Apple's toes?" it said.

 

Docking station

 

PatentlyApple.com said another patent win covers an iOS docking station based on inductive charging that has yet to surface.

 

"Perhaps this granted patent opens the door for its release in the not-too-distant future," it said.

 

Other patents include an uninterrupted virtual private network (VPN) connection service and a light sensitive display. — TJD, GMA News