Ever since it first debuted in January 2006, Apple has jealously guarded its MagSafe technology from being poached by the competition. Patented up the wazoo, Apple doesn’t allow knock-offs and goes after companies that try to rip it off, even going so far as to sue companies that make MagSafe compatible accessories that use official recycled MagSafe connectors.
It’s through being so aggressive about its MagSafe IP that, to this day, none of the competition has anything like it. That’s about to change, though: the new Microsoft Surface tablet has a MagSafe-like connector. Prepare for a legal showdown.
Just last week, Microsoft moved to patent for a five-pin magnetic power cable that looked startlingly familiar to Apple’s own five-pin MagSafe connector.
There was just one big difference: while Apple’s MagSafe only does power, Microsoft’s connector does power and data, allowing you to sync-and-charge your device through the same port, like a magnetic Apple dock connector.
But Microsoft’s patent isn’t just a cover-your-ass move to lay stake to a purely whimsical technology years away from market. When they debuted the Microsoft Surface, that MagSafe-like data/power connector was right there on the device.
Could things get ugly between Microsoft and Apple? We’re not patent experts, but we’d say it’s likely. Apple applied for a patent on a MagSafe connector for iPhone and iPad that could also be used for syncing using “coded magnets” back in January, pre-dating Microsoft’s application by six months.
Granted, the patent hasn’t by granted by the USPTO yet, but it’s ostensibly the same technology Microsoft is talking about: a combination charger/sync cable for a tablet that connects to the device using magnets. The only difference is in the number of pins.
Such a legal battle isn’t likely to happen anytime soon, but if Apple is granted their patent before Microsoft, watch out.
Source: SlashGear
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
12 responses to “Microsoft Steals Apple’s MagSafe Ideas For The Surface, Is A Nasty Showdown Brewing?”
I find it ironic that this article is so indignant in it’s accusation that Microsoft “stole” Apple’s Magsafe idea for two reasons. Firstly because the principle behind Magsafe (a magnetically attached power cable) was around way before the Magsafe itself, in kitchen appliances like crock pots found in many parts of Asia. This means that Apple appropriated the idea in the first place, so it’s not really their idea. The second reason I find this article ironic is because another article on this site (http://contextly.com/redirect/?id=VricOxWzkK:174993:426:5:c29scg==:rfle463utljlgto1lvv08g7mh6) advocates Apple doing exactly what they say Microsoft has done, which is to include a keyboard in the next iPad smart cover, with minor differences from the Microsoft Surface Touch Cover.
How did Apple manage to get a patent on that connector to begin with? It is a blatant ripoff of of the power plugs used on deep fryers, I have one that is over 10 years old. I guess if someone steals an idea, stamps “APPLE” on it, that makes it original.
The writer here is an IDIOT. The magnetic plugs has been around in Asia since the early 80’s. Used on Asian water kettles to prevent burns and injuries from tripping on the cord.
Apple is a POS. Innovative? More like paranoid idiots who patent things that were around way before Apple was even a “good electronic company”.
The iPhone 4 was a blatant copy of the LG Prada phone. Google it.