Another “tentative” blow has been handed to Apple as the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a first Office action rejecting all 20 claims of U.S. Patent No. 7,479,949. This multitouch patent, often referred to as “the Steve Jobs patent,” includes “touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for determining commands by applying heuristics.”
Apple has just lost one of its magic patent bullets thanks to a non-final Office action by the USPTO. Patent No, 7,469,381 (used against Samsung in California) has been declared invalid after evidence supporting prior art (as well as being obvious) was brought about during a reexamination request.
This news is not only great for Samsung, but many other manufacturers who are currently caught up in Apple’s legal charades.
