Apple patents dock
Stardock responds: Bring it on
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Apple has been granted a patent for the MacOS dock.
Read the whole thing here.
Besides the general idea of a userbar with "a plurality of item representations" that consolidates features like "launching and managing running applications," the patent focuses particularly on the Dock's magnification feature that makes icons bigger as you sweep by them with a cursor.
Some may recall this article that points out that not only have docks been seen in operating systems for decades but that Stardock has been doing docks since 1994.
Look familiar? Apple has every right to protect their inventions. But their innovation with regards to the Mac dock is extremely narrow. Stardock doesn't patent its software as a rule for philosophical reasons. But the lack of a patent doesn't mean Stardock hasn't been heavily involved in creating prior art.
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Reply #2 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 1:53 PM
Since SD has been doing docks since before the patent was applied for, Wouldnt OD fall under prior programs and fall out side the patents restrictions? Will Apple be stupid enough to try and force OD off the market?
Jobs did not invent the "dock" but yet they list him as one of the inventors?
Didnt OD zoom the Icons back in 94? I thought they did...
To expand on an idea already out there is one thing.. but to take said idea and patent it, basically stealing the idea and claiming it as your own, then have the patent office legitamize it is preposterous. But yet MS is constantly being blasted for thier "Shady practices"???? and being drug in to court?
Reply #3 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 2:23 PM
Reply #4 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 2:24 PM
I am getting fed up by the mockery of the US patent system and it's international implications (UK here), also of apple and there "evil empire" tactics (much like a 90's MS) and sick of seeing them get away with it since they're not seen as a monopoly.
Draginol did a post on history of docks recently https://forums.wincustomize.com/318845
Reply #5 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 4:08 PM
Well, nothing like looking past the obivous, different platforms, different languages, right?
Object Dock being for the PC shouldn't be affect by this, right?
Apple surely didn't get a patent for docks or even the zooming effect on all computer platforms, did they?
EDIT: I've read some more stuff about this and it does look like Apple's patent applies to other computer platforms.
Reply #6 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 4:53 PM
Reply #7 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 5:00 PM
Reply #8 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 5:22 PM
Everybody grab OD+ and run, or that guy in the turtleneck will come and get you
Meh. Apple sucks. Big time 
Reply #9 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 6:02 PM
Reply #10 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 6:15 PM
To permit a greater number of items to reside in the userbar, a magnification function can be provided which magnifies items within the userbar when they are proximate the cursor associated with the graphical user interface.
Ah, yes, there we go. The patent is for rollover magnification of the items in the dock.
Quite narrow, really....
Reply #11 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 6:27 PM
This is crazy, almost as crazy as McDonalds Inc tried to close down family run take-away in Scotland called McDonalds Burgers a few years ago.
Judge told McDonalds where to go though on the grounds of the family name was McDonald and they were more entitled to use of the name than a Kroc even if a surname could be patented and besides Scottish history much older and full of more precedent than US Corparate law and even US history.
Scottish law is rather more intelligent than most as 3 possible verdicts - innocent, not proven or guilty so if found not proven there is possibility of revisit the trial based on new evidence.
Apple are crazy and greedy in the beginning agents to sell their products then they introduced Apple stores in direct competition to people who paid for permits to sell Apple products, talk about getting screwed by your boss.
Reply #13 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 7:12 PM
Reply #14 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 7:31 PM
Reply #15 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 7:50 PM
The Amiga had docks as well, so I believe prior art will invalidate this in a court of law if it comes up.
Reply #16 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 9:27 PM
Reply #17 Thursday, October 9, 2008 2:46 AM
I'm not sure I buy into the idea that the concept of a dock can be patented. I'm not immediately familiar with the requirements for patent but, I think something has to demonstrate a unique, new and original function to be patentable. You can design and build a new and better mouse trap and possibly get a patent for it, but only for the unique, new and original aspect of it. The concept of a mouse trap itself isn't patentable.
Even as to the enlargement aspect on mouseover portion of the Apple OSX Dock that may not be unique, new and original. It should be interesting to see this play out.
Reply #18 Thursday, October 9, 2008 5:56 AM
Reply #19 Thursday, October 9, 2008 7:37 AM
Reply #20 Thursday, October 9, 2008 9:48 AM
Judge told McDonalds where to go though on the grounds of the family name was McDonald and they were more entitled to use of the name than a Kroc even if a surname could be patented and besides Scottish history much older and full of more precedent than US Corparate law and even US history.
Ah, yes, there we go. The patent is for rollover magnification of the items in the dock.
Quite narrow, really....
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Reply #1 Wednesday, October 8, 2008 1:41 PM
Just what does this mean for Stardock?
Do you expect Apple to show up at the door with a court order?
EDIT: I guess I needed to read the link first, sorry.