Hasta La Gadget!

This week it’s been a real all-out brawl very much behind the scenes when it’s come to the FTC cutting down Google for their supposed privacy infractions with the Apple Safari web browser – and today they’ve spoken up. Google has sent out an extremely tiny statement to CNN which essentially has them refusing the idea that they did anything wrong as far as privacy is concerned with Apple’s Safari browser. In addition, CNN has gotten some confirmation of the privacy fine Google faces, though they’re currently unwilling to share their sources on the matter.

The fine you may already have heard of racks up to $22.5 million dollars USD – just a few hours work for Google, in other words. This information, again, comes from a source with knowledge of the settlement speaking with the news source mentioned earlier. This information is crowned by a lovely little blip you’ll see here, as spoken by a Google spokesperson earlier today:

“We cannot comment on any specifics. However we do set the highest standards of privacy and security for our users.” – Google

This bit of information does not do one whole heck of a lot for the credibility of either the FTC or Google’s claims in this case, but it does let us know that Google is, at least on the surface, trying to remain true to their claim to not be evil in the world of public privacy. Have a peek at our timeline below to check out what Google actually may have done to deserve this case and its outcome:

Google refuses wrongdoing vs Safari, privacy fine confirmed is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Apple has just been hit with yet another patent-infringement lawsuit, this time by Noise Free Wireless, accusing Apple of violating its noise-canceling technology patents. Noise Free claimed that it had at one point revealed its noise-canceling technology to Apple in a series of meetings years ago, alleging that Apple went ahead and used the technology without permission.

Apple filed an application in 2010 for a “user-specific noise suppression for voice quality improvements” patent before the company decided to partner up with Audience over Noise Free for the supply of noise-canceling technology. “On further information and belief, Apple provided Audience with Noise Free’s confidential trade secret information to assist Audience in delivering a noise cancellation solution that was similar and/or identical to the solution that Noise Free designed,” Noise Free alleged in the suit.

In addition to patent infringement, Noise Free is suing Apple for trade secret theft and breach of contract, seeking “exemplary or punitive damages” for the misappropriation of its trade secrets. Noise Free has also requested the court to grant the company any of Apple’s patents that may come from Apple’s own patent application for noise-canceling technology. At this point, Apple has not yet commented on the lawsuit.

[via Apple Insider]

Apple faces lawsuit over noise-canceling technology is written by Elise Moreau & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Apple faces litigation claiming that it’s using patented technology all the time, often from small patent holding companies with dollar signs in their eyes. Noise Free Wireless has just filed a patent lawsuit against Apple whose allegations are considerably, well, louder. The firm maintains that it had been pitching its patented noise cancellation to Apple in periodic meetings between 2007 and 2010, only to watch as 1 Infinite Loop used Audience’s technology for the iPhone 4 instead — and supposedly handed some of Noise Free’s work to a competitor. An Apple patent filed the same year borrows some of that work, Noise Free insists, in addition to the iPhone in question. Neither side is talking about the details to outlets like Macworld, although we’d be cautious about accepting either company’s position at face value. However much Apple may protest its innocence regardless of circumstances, Noise Free certainly has a vested interest in retribution after losing out on such a big contract.

Filed under: Cellphones

Noise Free Wireless alleges Apple is tone deaf over sound reduction patent, files lawsuit to match originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung mustn’t know whether to celebrate or not. A UK judge has ruled that the Galaxy Tab doesn’t infringe Apple’s registered design, in large part because it’s “not as cool” as the iPad. Ouch. More »

The United Nations defines the stereotype of a peace broker, so it’s not that far-fetched to hear that its International Telecommunication Union (ITU) wing is hoping to step in and cool down the rapidly escalating patent world war. The organization plans to convene a Patent Roundtable on October 10th — in neutral Geneva, Switzerland, of course — to have smartphone makers, governments and standards groups try and resolve some of their differences. Those mostly concerned about Apple’s actions won’t be happy with the focus of the sit-down, however. Most of the attention will surround allegations that companies are abusing standards-based patents, which will put the heat largely on a Google-owned Motorola as well as Samsung. Still, there’s hope when the the ITU’s Secretary-General Dr. Hamadoun Touré talks of desiring a “balancing act” between what patent holders want and what customers need. Our real hope is that we don’t have to hear talk of customs delays and product bans for a long while afterwards.

[Image credit: Patrick Gruban, Flickr]

ITU wants to bring smartphone makers to peace talks, hash out patent wars originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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