The world lost a great technological leader yesterday with the passing of Steve Jobs. A quick patent search lists Jobs as a co-inventor on a multitude of both utility and design patents, including some of the following:
A design patent for the iPhone:
A utility patent for a âhighly portable media deviceâ (thumb drive):
A graphical user interface and method of use in a multimedia player (i.e. the hierarchy of how music on your iPod is displayed):
A design patent for a mouse:
And even a design patent for a staircase:
Jobs was no stranger to IP litigation either. With several lawsuits brought by and against Apple, parties frequently requested that Jobs be made available for depositions. In addition, Jobsâ presentations and videos thereof were used (unsuccessfully) to show patent infringement. In Apple Computer v. Podfitness, Apple sued a producer of individualized workout routines that could be downloaded to a userâs iPod for a variety of trademark , unfair competition, and false advertising violations for, amongst other things, featuring Jobsâ name in advertisements.
In fact, Jobsâ success with invention was used to tell the story of why patent reform was necessary. [here and here]
To learn more about the recently enacted patent reform law, join us at the University of Akronâs Center for Intellectual Property & Technology on Friday, October 14 for LEAHY-SMITH AMERICA INVENTS ACT: MAJOR CHANGES; MAJOR CHALLENGES.
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