without an ounce of class

Another feature to bloat iTunes.

@takkun1946: yep

Magnets. Damn ICP graphic won't post.

@Canon7D-Fanboy: They do have some patents there too. I haven't look at those much. The two in this post deal with designs only.

@Jaredu: What you have described is from utility patents, not design patents. There is no functional aspect of a design patent.

@Canon7D-Fanboy: You are failing to see what is patented. "Slide to unlock" is not what is patented here. The transformation test is for utility patents not design patents.

@Canon7D-Fanboy: Bilski has nothing to do with DESIGN patents.

@Jaredu: Point to one example of design patent creating a terrible monopoly? They are not very hard to design around.

@Tills13: These have nothing to do with software. They are design patents covering the "the ornamental design of a functional item." There is no functional element covered here.

@jacob.kossman: That is a different argument, I won't address that unless I read that patent. In this case, they are covered just for the looks and design of the keys and swipe bar. Essentially the artwork.

@jacob.kossman: They are design patents. They only cover the look. There really isn't any argument toward frivolousness.

@Lord_Data ∞: Code is not patentable.

@Incoherent: You can't patent it if (1) you didn't invent it and (2) it has been known about for over a year. Those are some loose rules.

@Superfresh: Just trying to help educate people! These aren't really broad patents at all. Not worth people getting worked up about.

@Lord_Data ∞: A design patent is for the "ornamental design" of an item — its looks. It is completely non-functional. Thus, the action of the key popping or the slide mechanism are NOT covered by these patents, just the look of the popped key or slider.

LiquidMetal doesn't have any electrical properties that would give it an advantage as antenna. All the benefit is mechanical.

These are design patents. If you key popups or slider don't look very similar, they won't infringe. Design patents are not nearly as powerful as utility patents.

@andrew.arace: from a different story yesterday it looks like it was Apple's fault with Safari.

@Ismail Samee: A few years ago a Chinese company was making knockoff Motorola Razors. They would flash with authentic Motorola software. It was pretty amazing.