Hasta La Gadget!

When the term “app store” is mentioned, does Apple’s iTunes App Store come to mind, or do you think Amazon’s Appstore, or do you think of it in general terms to refer to an online store where users of any platform can get their apps from? Some of you might recall that a while back, Apple was looking to sue Amazon over the “app store” term, claiming false advertising. Well it looks like Amazon is now hoping to get Apple’s “app store” case thrown out.

Amazon has filed for the request earlier today in the US District Court in Oakland, claiming that the “app store” term is a generic one and should not be considered false advertising. Amazon even cited the times when Apple’s former and late CEO, Steve Jobs, and Apple’s current CEO Tim Cook had used the “app store” term in generic terms as opposed to using it to reference the iTunes App Store. The motion is set for hearing come 31^st of October, while the alleged trademark infringement case itself is set for 19^th August 2013. Until then we guess we will have to wait and see how this one plays out, but what do you guys think?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Amazon China halts the sales of iPad 2 over trademark dispute, Amazon’s Kindle Fire accused of patent infringement,

Google chairman Eric Schmidt will meet with Samsung execs in South Korea this week, Samsung’s mobile chief has revealed, in what’s tipped to be an attempt to boost Google’s involvement in Android litigation. Shin Jong-kyun declined to specify the agenda for the meeting on Thursday, The Korea Times reports, which will fit in around the launch of the Nexus 7 in Korea. Despite Apple’s escalating demands, however, Samsung has increased its handset sales target to 400m for 2012.

Google, too, declined to comment on Schmidt’s movements this week in Korea. The company has been relatively quiet on the Apple vs. Samsung legal war, which has seen each attempt to balance their positions as rivals in the marketplace but also as supplier/customer.

Despite a $1bn ruling against the company in the US, Samsung has attempted to push back on the offensive against Apple. An attempt to block sales of the iPhone 5 based on alleged infringement of LTE patents has been one strategy; meanwhile, Apple has turned to other component manufacturers for an increasing number of parts for the new smartphone.

Google has been on the receiving end of some Apple rejection recently, with iOS 6 ousting Google Maps and replacing it with Apple’s homegrown Maps alternative. That’s been met with mixed reactions, with broad criticism over inaccuracies in mapping data and directions, though Apple is seen as having little option but to reduce its reliance on Google’s products given the climb of Android.

Other Android OEMs, such as HTC, have apparently received more proactive support in recent platform-related litigation, and it’s possible that Samsung is hoping to spur Google into taking a more visible stance moving forward. Shin also revealed that Samsung will be holding “strategy meetings with major carriers” in the US next week.

Samsung schedules strategy meeting with Google’s Schmidt over Apple’s Android war is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Three executives from troubled imaging giant Olympus have pleaded guilty to artificially boosting the company’s true value in 2007 and 2008 by concealing losses in financial statements. Former chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, ex-auditor Hideo Yamada and former VP Hisashi Mori were charged with fraud in the scandal, which was brought to light last year by ex-CEO Michael Woodford. He was fired by the Olympus board for blowing the whistle, but reportedly received a large settlement for his troubles. The company has since confessed to cooking the books as far back as the ’90s to hide investment losses, and revealed in 2011 that it had a billion dollars less in value than previously stated. That, along with the poor performance of its camera division, has forced Olympus to seek a partner or raise capital to survive.

Filed under: Cameras

Former Olympus executives plead guilty in accounting fraud trial originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 01:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We talked a lot about the drama centering on Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom. The New Zealand Prime Minister has ordered an official inquiry into claims that the New Zealand Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) unlawfully spied on Dotcom. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has called efforts to intercept communications sent by Dotcom illegal.

Key called the spying illegal after it emerged that the GCSB had wiretapped Dotcom’s communications without receiving necessary authority and permissions. The GSCB is New Zealand’s equivalent to the FBI. Dotcom tweeted, “I welcome the inquiry by @johnkeypm into unlawful acts by the GCSB. Please extend the inquiry to cover the entire Crown Law Mega case.”

Authorities in New Zealand have been the focus of a lot of criticism over alleged mishandling of the Dotcom arrest and trial. Dotcom claims that he was punched, kicked, kneed and otherwise mistreated during his arrest while offering no resistance to officers. The New Zealand High Court ruled in the past that search warrants used for the raid were invalid.

Dotcom has also been working on launching his Megaupload site again and claims that the work is 90% complete. Dotcom is also at work on music service called Megabox. Dotcom still faces extradition to the United States with a hearing on his extradition to take place in March of 2013. The extradition case was previously set for August of 2012, but was rescheduled after allegations that police mishandled the case.

[via TheNextWeb]

Inquiry into spying on Kim Dotcom ordered by NZ Prime Minister is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Apple is famous for accusing Samsung of “slavishly copying” the design of its iPhone. The copying claims led to a long-running legal battle that ultimately resulted in Samsung owing Apple about $1 billion. It seems Apple has been doing a bit of copying designs of its own.

The Swiss are famous for clocks and watches. Switzerland has long been the source of some the most iconic watch designs and beautifully intricate timepieces in the world. The Swiss Federal Railway service has accused Apple of copying its iconic railway clock.

Clearly looking at the two clocks side-by-side, they are identical save for the Swiss clock’s logo. You can see in the image above the shocking similarities between the two. The Apple digital clock pictured is used in the iPad Clock app.

The Swiss clock was originally designed by Hans Hilfiker and is described as an icon for the Swiss railway and Switzerland. The clock is trademarked and copyrighted by the Swiss Federal Railways service. The railway service has been licensing the use of the clock design, and Apple isn’t one of these licensees. I sense another court case brewing.

[via MacRumors]

Swiss Federal Railways accuses Apple of copying its clock design is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.