http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2012/12/the-next-step-in-apples-glass-project-revealed.html
Seems like before Google filed their patent on Google glasses, Apple decided to file their own. This means Apple was working on a similar product even before Google made this idea popular. Of course, I think Apple filed this patent as more of an exploratory/defensive move than actually creating a product. Google's patent is also filed in much more detail. I could foresee a lawsuit in the future after Google launches its classes. Google has probably predicted this, and has lawyers already at work, attempting to divert any possible lawsuits.
Interestingly enough Microsoft also has their own patent in terms of smart glasses. Does this mean there is an impending Glass war? Who will be able to defend this in court. Seems like a similar situation may happen as with Apple and Samsung.
Part of me wonders what type of legal horsepower these large technology firms have. How are they organized? Do they contract out to firms or do they hire lawyers in house? How do they segment their legal operations (e.g. offensive, defensive, research, etc)? How do they verify the legality of their technology and how is the legal process integrated into the research and development process?
Interesting questions that you definitely need to be on the other side of the fence to figure out.
It frustrates me that companies like Apple file all these patents in fields that they don't pursue. Of course, in their shoes I might do the same, so it's hard to judge. And we never know what context there may have been for the development of the glasses patent. But now it must be very frustrating for Google, who are just trying to push the limits of technology but are limited by Apple's existing lawsuits which they will undoubtedly sue over in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic. I feel like another set of patent wars, just like the smartphone patent wars are going to start with these new forms of technologies.
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