An interesting report comes from All Things D today, detailing a argument from Google against Apple. Unsurprisingly, the discussion revolves around patents, particularly standard essential patents (SEP). Basically, Google is suggesting that when technologies become popular enough, even if they are proprietary, they should become public standards, available to everyone.
According to Google’s Kent Walker:
While collaborative [Standards Setting Organizations (SSOs)] play an important part in the overall standard setting system, and are particularly prominent in industries such as telecommunications, they are not the only source of standards. Indeed, many of the same interoperability benefits that the FTC and others have touted in the SSO context also occur when one firm publishes information about an otherwise proprietary standard and other firms then independently decide (whether by choice or of necessity) to make complementary investments to support that standard in their products. … Because proprietary or de facto standards can have just as important effects on consumer welfare, the Committee’s concern regarding the abuse of SEPs should encompass them as well.
Walker’s comments sprouted a rebuttal from Apple’s Bruce Sewell, who argues against Google, claiming that by keeping proprietary technologies just that, proprietary, innovation is encouraged.
The capabilities of an iPhone are categorically different from a conventional phone, and result from Apple’s ability to bring its traditional innovation in computing to the mobile market. Using an iPhone to take photos, manage a home-finance spreadsheet, play video games, or run countless other applications has nothing to do with standardized protocols. Apple spent billions in research and development to create the iPhone, and third party software developers have spent billions more to develop applications that run on it. The price of an iPhone reflects the value of these nonstandardized technologies — as well as the value of the aesthetic design of the iPhone, which also reflects immense study and development by Apple, and which is entirely unrelated to standards.
Tim Cook already shared his thoughts on the matter at the D10 conference earlier this year, saying:
We take all of our energy and all of our care, and to have someone else put their name on it? The worst thing in the world that can happen to you if you’re an engineer and you’ve given your life to something is for someone to rip it off and put their name on it.
You can view the letters in their entirety over at AllThingsD.
I don’t really understand what Google is thinking here. Sure, standards are important, and openness is always appreciated, but why should companies have to give up the technologies behind their creations just because they became popular?
What side are you on? Is Apple in the right here or is this just another case of Google “Not Being Evil”?
Source: AllThingsD
Michael Steeber is a student who is obsessed with everything Apple. He enjoys making videos and runs the MSComputerVideos YouTube channel in his free time. You can follow him on Twitter as well.
24 responses to “Google Wants Apple’s Inventions To Be Shared With Everyone”
In a world where is no profit to be made, i will back Google up.
Until then only if this means the reduction of price (to about 80%) of the final product.
So, since Google isn’t creative enough to come up with their own “cool” or “popular” features, Apple should share? Would Google do that if Apple wanted them to? No. Google needs to grow up, and learn they are never going to beat Apple, and pulling out a crap card like this isn’t going to help. Stop being wusses Google!
Yeah well I imagine DC would like Marvel to share their superheroes with them.
Doesn’t mean they should.
I wonder how Google would feel about having to open up their patented page rank algorithms?
Perhaps Apple should just buy Google and take it back to its roots.
that’s what i’m saying
I think mob phones got very popular during last decade and is more like a standard to have at least one. Google should make one and give a mobile phone for every single person 12+ yo on the planet, for free. Does not really matter how much it cost for google to manufacture a mobile phone, since it is very popular to have one.
So, because Apple was able to make a great device that everyone then starting ripping off, and now these people are now in a group that Apple will/should sue, they want the idea to become a standard and for Apple to share? PLEASE! A company shouldn’t need to share the patents just because it became a standard only after they made it. Google needs to put its big boy shorts on and realize that the world isn’t fair. If Google or other companies don’t want to share their patents, why should Apple? I think Apple is right here, not because I’m a fan of Apple products, but the fact that NO COMPANY SHOULD HAVE TO GIVE THEIR PATENTS AWAY FOR FREE!!
Google is happy to have Apple spend the money on R&D and then reap the benefits for free. I can’t wait until Google turns over its search algorithms to Apple so Apple can start its own search engine to compete with Google. What I’m really concerned about is that the courts are actually willing to go along with Google. Apple hasn’t won anything worthwhile against Android in the court system and probably never will.
Pooop
Im wit google.what did apple inovate? Nothing! Steve said it him self.he stole others their ideas and technology and stamped his name on it.so what is there to protect? And what is apple inovating? The iphone 4s is behind technology just like the next iDevice.apple is atoping inovation,instead of stimulating it.
Oh and for the dumb apple fanboys.if you dont even know what all this is about,than dont even bother comenting.google is making this statement because stupid patent system in america grants apple patents that it should not get or didnt even invent.apple wasnt the first with: swipe unlock,global search,ipad desing,gestures,list displeyings… and i can go on like that.software pattents in general are a big BS!
LOL – Google guys must be smoking their own weed!!! Nuts.
Google… doing no evil and fooling its fans.. yet again. Maybe its time to start looking at Bing again. (but I dislike Microsoft too… sigh) Maybe Apple needs to enter the search game!
I reckon its not being selfish at all, and its not about credit grabbing either, i think the bottom line is if you invent/discover something, you have the right to share it to the public at the same time keep the good things for yourself. Every great technology has a secret formula, and that what makes it great.
Let’s see …. Would I spend billions on new tech R&D and then give it away for free to my competitors? If the answer is not obvious then you’d never understand my answer.
“Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger: [before pulling the arc reactor out of Tony’s chest] When I ordered the hit on you, I was worried that I was killing the golden goose. But, you see, it was just fate that you survived it…you had one last golden egg to give. You really think that just because you have an idea, it belongs to you? Your father, he helped give us the atomic bomb. Now what kind of world would it be today if he was as selfish as you?”
– Iron Man
I like to see Tony Stark as “Apple” and Obadiah as “Google”.
I would like for Tim Cook’s current and future money to be shared with everyone too. It is only fair.
how long does a patent last? like the first person to invent anything is originally the only person allowed to create it, but eventually other people create very similar functioning devices. this applies to anything from food products to gadgets to furniture. If something is the best and most efficient way to do it, i think everyone should be allowed to do it that way.
Dear Google: Just go away. You are a terrible company and you should be ashamed. You do nothing for technology and your little stunts are just lame.
Maybe they should share their search results or their street view, if they really feel this way, though.
So I’m sure Google will share their search engine patents with the rest of the world in that case. After all, Google is such a ubiquitous name now with all their services, they should share with Microsoft, Yahoo, Dogpile, and others no?
They did. It’s called Siri (and it’s still beta so I don’t need to hear from all the trolls about how it doesn’t work.)
There is no moronic idea that Google puts forth that surprises me any longer.
Google pretends to be all open-source, free, hacker ethics and all that but they’re just after our information. Information is currency to them. They are Evil.