steve jobs takes a strong stand against IP thieves

[deadrats]

steve jobs pulled no punches when commenting on a new law suit filed against HTC over alleged iphone patent violations, here's what he said:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10462116-94.html

Apple is suing phone maker HTC and has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, alleging that the Taiwanese company is infringing 20 Apple patents related to the iPhone.


"We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it," Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, said in a statement Tuesday. "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."

in response, "1996" steve jobs countered with this:

http://gizmodo.com/5483914/steve-jobs-1996-good-artists-copy-great-artists-steal

"Good artists copy, great artists steal".

and then added:

"We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas."

you just can't make this stuff up.

[jagabo]

Funny.

[JimmyS]

"We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas."

Ideas are not patentable. But, technical designs and process implementations of the idea are patentable. Anyone can make a touch screen phone and many have done so. But the way they do it may not infringe on others patents.

[deadrats]

"We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas."

Ideas are not patentable. But, technical designs and process implementations of the idea are patentable. Anyone can make a touch screen phone and many have done so. But the way they do it may not infringe on others patents.

you're splitting hairs, "technical designs and process implementations" are themselves, wait for it, ideas.

Jobs didn't say that "we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas as they relate to general products", he said "we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas", that encompasses the whole scope of product design as each element may in and of itself be a "great idea".

and just in case it's not clear, when you patent a technical design or a process implementation, what you have patented are ideas, that's one of the reasons i am vehemently opposed to almost all patents, it's possible for 2 people to independently have the same idea and with certain ideas, due to technological limitations, there may only be a handful of ways to make those ideas a reality, it's absurd that one person or corporate entity can box out another person simply because he filed the patent application first.

patents stifle innovation, restrict competition, impede technological growth and are ultimately bad for the consumer as they lead to higher prices.

this world would be a much better place without patents, not to mention the stock market and most lawyers.

[aedipuss]

and without these two thieves-

jobs and woz stole the parts to make the original apples from their employers and sold phone phreaking devices that defrauded the telephone companies, making themselves big bucks selling the illicit devices. in my opinion they should have spent years in prison not become rich and famous. and as for the cat calling the kettle black.....

[jagabo]

Obviously, stealing is ok when your the one doing it. Not when you're the one being stolen from.