HTC defeats Apple in swipe-to-unlock patent dispute
HTC is claiming victory in a patent dispute with Apple after a ruling by the High Court in London.
The judge ruled that HTC had not infringed four technologies that Apple had claimed as its own.
He said Apple's slide-to-unlock feature was an "obvious" development in the light of a similar function on an earlier Swedish handset.
Apple has also cited the patent in disputes against firms using Google's Android system software.
Slide-to-unlock
HTC launched the London-based lawsuits a year ago as part of an effort to invalidate European patents Apple had referred to in a German court case. Apple subsequently countersued.
The four patents at stake were:
- Unlocking a device by performing a gesture on an image.
- The use of a multilingual keyboard offering different alphabets on portable devices, including mobile phones.
- A system to determine which elements of a screen were activated by single-finger touches; which were activated multi-finger touches and which ignored touches altogether.
- Letting a user drag an image beyond its limits and then showing it bounce back into place to illustrate that they had reached its furthest edge.
The judge ruled that the first three patents were invalid in this case, while the fourth did not apply to HTC's devices.
Lawyers fighting other lawsuits against Apple are likely to pay close attention to the decision regarding its slide-to-unlock patent.
The judge said that HTC's "arc unlock" feature - which also involves a predefined gesture along a path shown on-screen - would have infringed Apple's technology had it not been for a device released in 2004.
The Neonode N1 showed a padlock on its screen with the words "right sweep to unlock" when it was in its protected mode. A later version replaced the text with an arrow.
The judge said it would have been an "obvious" improvement for the developers to have offered users visual feedback in the form of a "slider" in the way that Apple later used.
He added that the concept of a "slider" was not new since it had already appeared in Microsoft's CE system.
As a result Apple's claim to the innovation was rejected.
'Limited impact'
A statement from the Taiwanese firm said: "HTC is pleased with the ruling, which provides further confirmation that Apple's claims against HTC are without merit. We remain disappointed that Apple continues to favour competition in the courtroom over competition in the marketplace."
Apple declined to comment on the specifics of the case.
Instead it re-issued an earlier statement, saying: "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."
Apple has previously defended its slide-to-unlock patent in other disputes against Samsung, HTC and Google's Motorola unit with some success.
Most recently a US court ruled the patent was valid in a dispute that led to a sales ban being imposed on the Google-branded Nexus smartphone.
However, Andrew Alton, a lawyer at UK firm Urquhart-Dykes and Lord who used to do work for Apple, said the impact of the London ruling might be limited.
"National patent laws thematically are very similar, but can be applied very differently.
"Not only are the tests different but also the evidence that can be introduced in different courts varies. If the Neonode wasn't released in the US it might not be able to be cited there.
"So the fact that Apple has lost this particular patent battle in the UK shouldn't mean it should be seen to have lost the global war."
UN Monitor Chief Says Team Will Adapt Syria Mission
The head of the United Nations observer team in Syria says he will adjust the way the monitors work when their mission resumes, with a focus on staying in certain areas for longer periods of time.
Major General Robert Mood told reporters Thursday in Damascus that it is time to stop spreading the team out “too thin” and that the U.N. Security Council will decide on the future of the mission in the coming days and weeks.
“Whatever decision the Security Council makes, the international community's continued responsibility to the Syrian people is moral as well as political. We cannot and we will not turn our eyes and ears away from your plight, and we'll continue our work to find new paths to political dialogue and peaceful resolution to the crisis.”
Mood suspended operations on June 16 due to safety risks to the 300 observers in Syria. The United Nations said attackers targeted the observer team several times with gunfire and bombs.
The crisis in Syria is expected to be a major topic Thursday as foreign ministers from France and Turkey meet in Paris and their counterparts from Germany and Russia hold talks in Moscow.
The meetings come a day before France is set to host about 100 delegations for a “Friends of Syria” meeting – one which Russia and China say they will not attend. Neither country appeared at the group's previous meetings in April and February.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Thursday that while China will not participate in Friday's talks, the aim of bringing an end to the crisis is important.
“We believe that now is a crucial moment for finding a political resolution to the Syria issue. The international community should strive to implement the consensus reached at the Geneva talks. Meanwhile, resolving the Syria issue will require the joint effort and participation from all parties in Syria. Right now, China is not considering attending this meeting.”
Russia and China have disagreed with Western countries this week over the meaning of an accord reached last Saturday in Geneva calling for a transitional governing body in Syria. Several Western nations said the agreement would preclude Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from being a part of a transitional government, but Russia and China say there is no such stipulation.
The two sides have long been at odds over how to address the situation in Syria, where a revolt against Mr. Assad's nearly 12-year rule broke out in March of last year. Russia and China have used their veto power on the United Nations Security Council to block several rounds of proposed sanctions against Syria.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Wednesday that his government wants to see signs of movement “as quickly as possible” or else it would return to the United Nations to seek tougher measures, ranging from sanctions to possible military intervention.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told VOA 21 people were killed Wednesday as clashes continued throughout Syria. Opposition activists say the carnage has spiked in recent days, with at least 109 people killed Sunday, 114 on Monday and 69 on Tuesday.
VOA
Fukushima Nuclear Disaster ‘Man-Made’
A Japanese parliamentary panel has concluded that last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster was “man-made,” even as authorities announced the controversial return of nuclear power for the first time following the crisis.
The report, based on a six-month investigation, faulted both the government and the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, for failing to foresee and prevent the worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine, eastern Europe.
The investigative panel found that officials “deliberately postponed decisions” that would have protected the Fukushima power plant from the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck in March last year.
In its most stern report yet, the panel said the accident “cannot be regarded as a natural disaster” and that its effects “could have been mitigated by a more effective human response.”
Meanwhile, a nuclear reactor in western Japan began generating badly needed electricity for the first time since a nation-wide nuclear shutdown was implemented in the wake of the disaster.
The number 3 reactor at the Ohi nuclear power plant went back on the grid Thursday, despite widespread public opposition to the resumption of atomic power.
Following the meltdown at Fukushima, all of Japan's nuclear reactors were eventually taken offline to conduct safety inspections and stress tests. The country had been without nuclear power for two months. The government has argued the restart is necessary to avoid blackouts during the upcoming summer months.
The parliamentary report released Thursday could have major implications for the future of nuclear power in Japan, which before the disaster relied on atomic energy for about 30 percent of its electricity.
The investigation was the result of over 900 hours of hearings and 1100 interviews with officials, including former Prime Minister Naoto Kan and TEPCO ex-President Masataka Shimizu.
The investigation committee chairman, Kiyoshi Kurokawa, said he was confident the commission has completed a thorough investigation.
“We have managed to compile this report within six months. Though this is a short period of time, we have conducted a thorough investigation and verification process during this time.”
While the commission's final report did not vary greatly from previous findings, the panel said it cannot rule out that the March 11 earthquake, and not just the ensuing tsunami, was the primary cause of the accident. Previous reports indicated that the plant's reactors survived the earthquake but were damaged in the tsunami.
Romanian Lawmakers Move to Impeach President
A coalition of Romanian lawmakers are moving to try to impeach President Traian Basescu, as part of a power struggle with the country's prime minister.
The coalition's action is the latest move in a month-long campaign of attacks by Prime Minister Victor Ponta against the President Basescu.
Lawmakers from the three-party Liberal Social Union , which include Prime Minister Ponta's Social Democrat Party, could vote on a motion to impeach the president as early as Friday, after debating the issue Thursday. Some analysts say the coalition's actions to remove President Basescu are illegal. His supporters have likened Mr. Ponta's attack on the president as an attack on democracy in Romania and they are calling for the prime minister's resignation because of a plagiarism scandal.
The president has been accused of overstepping his powers and violating the country's constitution. The pro-government coalition has also approved a measure barring the Constitutional Court from ruling on parliament matters, making it easier to impeach the president without a legal fight. Voters will have the final say on President Basescu's fate during a referendum vote. The USL suspended a President Basescu in 2007, but he was reinstated during a referendum vote.
Nato supply trucks cross Pakistan border after row
Trucks supplying Nato in Afghanistan crossed the border from Pakistan for the first time in seven months after Islamabad reopened transit routes.
Pakistani officials said at least two Nato containers passed through the Chaman border point on Thursday.
Many more lorries remain in the southern Pakistani port of Karachi awaiting clearance to proceed.
Pakistan reopened the routes after the US apologised for killing 24 of its soldiers on the border in November.
The decision will save the US hundreds of millions of dollars as it prepares to withdraw from Afghanistan.
Pakistan has said it hopes the move will improve relations with the US and other Nato countries.
"We received orders yesterday to allow Nato supply trucks through, but security officials hadn't received their instructions," Pakistani customs Imran Raza told Reuters news agency.
"They received their orders today, and now two trucks have crossed the border into Afghanistan."
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Karachi says it appears, however, that most Nato trucks in Pakistan remain stationary.
He says drivers in Karachi have yet to be given the all-clear and have told the BBC they do not know of any trucks that have left the city yet.
US aid
The seven month-long row over supply lines have been hugely damaging to relations between Pakistan and the US, with both sides unwilling to back down.
It began in November last year when two dozen Pakistani soldiers were killed as US air strikes hit two posts on the Afghan border.
At the time, Afghan officials said that Nato forces had been retaliating for gunfire from the Pakistani side of the volatile border, but Pakistan rejected that claim.
The supply route through Pakistan is crucial to the United States as it prepares to pull all combat troops out of Afghanistan by 2014.
Reports suggest the US may now release over $1bn in funding to Pakistan's military.
Islamabad confirmed it would not raise transit fees when the lines re-open.
US officials say the existing charge of $250 (£160) per truck will not change - Washington had baulked at a reported Pakistani demand for $5,000 per container to let supplies flow again.
The Taliban have threatened to resume attacks on the convoys.
--BBC
TURKS AND CAICOS PUBLISHES NEW DRAFT LAW TO GOVERN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING
Consultation regarding proposed new rules and regulations for governing the conduct of politicians and their parties in the Turks and Caicos, particularly during election campaigns, begins today with the publication of the draft Political Activities Ordinance today, Tuesday, 3 July 2012.
Previously referred to as the Conducts Ordinance, the suggested legislation asks TCI civil society to consider how donor finance to political parties should work, what are the limits for campaign spending, what are parties’ accounting requirements, how might the filing of reports and penalties be better managed?
The specific legislation is specified explicitly in the New Ordinances Milestone and takes forward one of the recommendations of the 2009 Sir Robin Auld Commission of Inquiry. It also specifies the role of the Integrity Commission as the monitor of the conduct of parties for these measures, as well as describing the penalties for election finance offences.
An earlier draft of the legislation was given to the PDM, PNP, Advisory Council and Consultative Forum, Election Preparations Oversight Group in Spring 2012. Indeed, it was a point of specific discussion when the PDM and PNP met with UK Parliamentarians from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in March. This session produced a wide range of modifications which have now been included in the new draft.
The draft ordinance would apply to both political parties as well as independent candidates, although the reporting requirements and obligations on independents are lesser due to their likely lack of party machinery to support their campaigning. Comments as to how this might be best achieved are specifically being sought during the public consultation.
Views are also being sought on:
- Should there be a maximum amount an individual donor (person or business) can give a Turks and Ciacos political party? The figure of $50,000 is suggested but is this too much or too little? Who should be allowed to fund TCI political parties and candidates?
- How much should a party be able to spend on campaigning? This is currently proposed as $50,000 for each constituency seat and $200,000 for each at large candidate. The draft legislation is seeking views on people’s views as to whether or not this is appropriate in a seat with less than 700 voters which would average $71 spent per head, for example. By way of comparison in the UK a constituency of 70,000 electors (a modest size by UK standards) the total spend according to the formula allowed by law is £12,000 (approx. $18,000), equivalent to £0.17 (approx $0.25) per voter. The proposed maximum spending in the TCI is, therefore, 284 times higher per capita than in the UK.
“The Westminster Foundation for Democracy plans to return to TCI in late July to begin their work the local political parties on accounting for campaign financing and political financing, advice on policy-based campaigning and bilateral consultations for prospective independent candidates,” said Philip Rushbrook, Director of Strategy in the Governor’s Office. “The draft Political Activities Ordinance will be used as the basis of their training activities.
“Further, it is proposed that the Integrity Commission would set up an ‘election monitoring unit’ to receive the accounting returns required from parties and candidates, as well as to investigate omissions and complaints. Together, this unit would work in conjunction with the Elections Office.”
This new draft is being considered by the Consultative Forum, with the review period ending on Friday, 13th July. Thereafter, a finalised text will address the responses received and subsequently be taken forward to complete its passage into law before the end of the month.
CFOfficer Hugh McGarel-Groves responds to anti-VAT Independent Business Council
Following the publication of the VAT White paper in the Turks and Caicos Islands today, Mon, 2 July, Chief Financial Officer Hugh McGarel-Groves responded to the latest news release from the anti-VAT Turks and Caicos Independent Business Council:
“The IBC seems to be set against the people of the Turks and Caicos from benefitting from planned, sustained and regularised income with which to ensure, and invest in, essential public services. Government revenue has fluctuated wildly over the past few years. VAT helps prevent this. What do we do if revenue drops again without VAT – close schools? More than anyone else, business people should understand the importance of stable cash flow.
“Their statement has provided an extremely partial picture of what has gone on in other Caribbean countries, particularly Barbados. It has tried to portray the financial challenges of that country as solely down to VAT. This is not correct. VAT was introduced in Barbados in 1997 and the country enjoyed a number of boom years immediately afterwards. The IBC claims ignore wider economic issues and do not take into account that both income and property taxes are payable there, and elsewhere in the Caribbean, in addition to VAT. That TCI has neither of those taxes here, and has proposed the second lowest rate and the highest VAT threshold in the Caribbean, we believe offers the country an ongoing significant competitive advantage.
“Neither is it true to say that we have not consulted widely here in Turks and Caicos. This has been discussed as an option since 2005. The Green Paper – intended to generate discussion before decisions were made - was distributed widely to the Advisory Council, Consultative Forum, numerous business Associations, individual businesses and members of the public. We held more than 30 sessions with various groups. The accusation that we could not provide all of the answers is also misleading as many of these answers could only be provided after consultation in the White Paper, such as dealing with Strata corporations, which is the factual statement of Government policy and published today.
“The content of the White Paper shows that we have taken local considerations into account and tried to strike a balance between the needs of Government and the people it serves, with those of local business: VAT is a replacement tax, prices should not rise; we have made a large number of items zero rated or exempt from VAT to help both the consumer and the construction sector, for example; we have carefully considered how to implement VAT and to ensure effective compliance.”
TURKS AND CAICOS VAT WHITE PAPER PUBLISHED
The Turks and Caicos Government published its much anticipated White Paper, which outlines the agreed policy decisions on how VAT will be implemented in the Territory, today, Mon 2 July 2012.
The key VAT policy decisions includes:
- The effective rate of VAT to be charged in the Turks and Caicos Islands will be 11% - which is the second lowest rate in the Caribbean region, after Haiti, and is the same level as Accommodation Tax currently charged in the TCI.
- The VAT registration threshold for businesses not already registered for Accommodation Tax will be set at a turnover of $200,000 in annual gross sales, which is the highest threshold in the Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda are the next highest at $110,000). This figure was determined on the planned number of registrants, values of imports, business license information and employee earnings data. It is anticipated that there will be 400 VAT registered businesses in the TCI at the $200,000 registration level, when VAT begins next year.
- The VAT registration threshold for businesses already registered for Accommodation Tax will be set at a lower threshold of $50,000 to mitigate against any loss of tax revenue from businesses with turnovers between $50,000 and $200,000. Hotels and restaurants with turnovers below $50,000 will no longer be required to include taxes in their charges to their customers; however they will pay VAT on their imports and other inputs, which registered businesses can offset against their output VAT.
- There will be a deliberately large range of VAT exempt supplies, which are those goods and services that will not be directly subject to VAT. These have been chosen to protect consumers against price increases on essential goods and services. VAT exempt goods will include: basic food items including rice, flour, sugar, milk and eggs, chicken, fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables. In addition, infant supplies, personal hygiene products, hurricanes shutters, cement, steel, fuel, property leases and rents; property sales where stamp duty is applied, medical services, transportation, religious services and printed materials.
- There will also be a range of zero rated supplies, which are goods and services that will be taxable, but at a VAT rate of zero per cent, allowing a VAT registrant to claim input tax credit on inputs used in making the zero rated supplies, including the supply of water, electricity and exports.
- Import duties will be generally reduced by between 10% and 15% to offset the effect of VAT being included in the cost of imports and VAT on imports will be calculated on the fully landed cost, including CIF (carriage, insurance and freight), Customs Processing Fee (6%) and import duty. Import duty and CPF will continue to be calculated on the FOB value of imports.
- All accommodation units in resorts/condominiums will be required to join the resorts/condominiums rental pools and only rentals through the rental pool arrangements will be permitted. Only the rental pool business will be required to register for VAT, not the individual accommodation units.
- Strata fees allocated to owners of resorts/condominiums accommodation units will not be subject to VAT, as these represent a sharing of costs that are already subject to VAT, within a Strata company arrangement formed on behalf of the owners for cost sharing purposes.
“Following the anticipated passing of the VAT Bill into law, the VAT implementation team will continue to explain to the business community their rights and obligations arising from the changes and operational procedures of VAT, and the resulting consequences of non-compliance,” said TCIG Chief Financial Officer, Hugh McGarel-Groves.
“Staff in Customs and Revenue Control Unit are being trained now in VAT operations covering areas such as taxpayer registration, calculation of VAT and processing of returns.
“The VAT Implementation Team will shortly begin to work with the first group of VAT registrants and through regular meetings, training sessions and advisory visits, ensure a smooth transition in April next year.”
Operations on Grand Turk will not close says TCI Commissioner
Swirling rumors have found their way into the rumor mill as it relates to the downsizing of the grand Turk Police station.
RTC News contacted Press Officer, Kevin Clarke to verify the story.
In a response to our news room, Police Operations on Grand will not be greatly reduced. Commissioner of Police has issued this statement.
“I am not certain how the rumour originated that Grand Turk policing is being greatly reduced because it is so far from reality.
“The Senior Executive of the RTCI Police are actually strengthening Grand Turk by deploying an Inspector and a Sergeant on each of the four shifts, which were not there before.
“We are essentially delegating more authority and decision-making to the each shift to ensure accountability and to aid in policing services.
The Commissioner continued, “I am committed to ensuring that Grand Turk has the policing services that it needs. Each of our islands has particular needs and the RTCI Police will provide the unique policing service that each island requires.”
RTC will continue to follow this story in the event the rumor becomes truth.
Rappers Win Big At 2012 BET Awards
Hip-Hop music was front and center last night (July 1) at the 2012 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
Jay-Z and Kanye West snagged Best Group as “The Throne,” while Drake won Best Male Hip-Hop Artist.
Drake’s Young Money labelmate Nicki Minaj won Best Female Hip-Hop artist, while Wale and Miguel’s track “Lotus Flower Bomb ” won Best Collaboration.
Jay-Z and Kanye’s video”Otis” took home Video of the Year, while Jay-Z’s wife Beyoncé won Director of the Year with Alan Ferguson, her creative collaborator for the “Party” and “Dance For You” videos.
Detroit rapper Big Sean won New Artist of the Year, while Diggy Simmons took home the Young Stars award.
Other winners included UK rapper Wretch 32, Chris Brown, Serena Williams, Kevin Hart, and Kevin Durant.
Whitney Houston was honored in a moving tribute by her mother, Cissy Houston, Marian Carey, and other friends and family during the live show, which, during other portions, was marred by obscenities that were constantly bleeped out.
Performers included Brandy, Monica, G.O.O.D. Music, Rick Ross, Usher, Nicki Minaj, and Chris Brown.
Meanwhile,
Some ish almost went down at the BET Awards according to allhiphop.com.
The site says it was almost on between two hot tempered hip hop personalities. One being rapper Busta Rhymes and the other being Power 105.1 Breakfast Club host, Charlamagne.
According to a source, Busta was upset over an interview with his baby mama and his son that took place on the Wendy Williams radio show back in 2004.
Yes, Charlamagne used to work for Wendy Williams, but according to him, he was not working with Wendy in 2004 when the interviews happened.
You have wonder why it would take Rhymes 8 years to confront Charlamange, but primarily, why he just didn’t deal with Wendyin the first place?
When asked about the almost fight, here’s what Charlamagne told Vlad TV:
“Arguing. Acting like we wanted to do something to each other but neither of us made a move. That’s why I don’t talk to ni***s after 5PM.”