Steve Jobs Patents "The Dock"

[Axemantitan]

"If you're a PC, you may be unfamiliar with The Dock, the bar of icons that sits at the bottom or side of a Mac and provides easy access to Apple applications. But don't count on it becoming a standard on the PC. On Tuesday, the USPTO awarded Apple — and inventor Steve Jobs — a patent for their User Interface for Providing Consolidation and Access, aka 'The Dock,' after a rather lengthy nine-year wait."

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/08/1224224&from=rss

 

[wheezy]

So what does that mean for all the linux/windows knock offs?

 

[jodelli]

Gee, does this mean I have to pay royalties on my Linux panels?

 

[opeter]

Gee, does this mean I have to pay royalties on my Linux panels?

Yep. Or even worse: all those "docks" will simplay disappear from other OS.

 

[840quadra]

This is one of many of his patents that are related to NeXT and NeXTstep operating system. He may not have personally invented it, however NeXT did have a similar feature, and came before any of the Window Managers for Linux / Unix created similar.

I doubt he is going to go after open source clones, however you can bet that if any become popular, or Microsoft starts using similar, it could get interesting. The patent of the Dock may be a hint of more important uses for it in the future.

 

[rhett7660]

The patent of the Dock may be a hint of more important uses for it in the future.

That is what I am thinking. Something better down the road that will incorporate the dock........

 

[redAPPLE]

steve jobs (or next or apple) may be geniuses, but, i am not sure they have had special plans for the dock, 9 years ago...

 

[iParis]

Lol, I hope the dock on the dock on my OS X wannabe doesn't disappear.
Here it is:

 

[KingYaba]

What, like RocketDock?

 

[jaw04005]

I doubt he is going to go after open source clones, however you can bet that if any become popular, or Microsoft starts using similar, it could get interesting.

I highly doubt it. Microsoft and Apple have some type of patent-sharing agreement that was signed back in 1997. That's why so many of their products share similar features.

Now, I wouldn't be surprised if Apple started going after retail third-party software (Stardock, etc).

 

[iParis]

What, like RocketDock?

That's the impression I got from this thread.
I hope to have an actual Mac by the time they do.

 

[Balty]

Lol, I hope the dock on the dock on my OS X wannabe doesn't disappear.
Here it is:

Nice, but I'd prefer the "real thing"
(don't worry, I modded my dock...)

 

[DaveTheGrey]

Nice, but I'd prefer the "real thing"

me too. luckily I don't have to use other operating systems!