Apple and Samsung‘s high-profile patent case riled up a lot of people on both sides of the argument, and today legendary Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak gave his take on the whole tussle. In a new interview with Bloomberg, Wozniak said that he doesn’t agree with the decision. He also said that he thinks companies should just share patents with each other, which would allow for the development of the best devices possible.
When asked for his thoughts on the trial, Wozniak indicated that he didn’t like the way things went down. “I hate it,” he said. “I don’t think the decision of California will hold. And I don’t agree with it — very small things I don’t really call that innovative. I wish everybody would just agree to exchange all the patents and everybody can build the best forms they want to use everybody’s technologies.”
We think that Woz is onto something here, but don’t count on the big manufacturers of the world to pay attention. Apple, Samsung, HTC, Google, and many others, hold vast patent portfolios, and they aren’t likely to begin sharing them freely anytime soon – especially when we’ve seen just how much money you can make when someone infringes on your patents. Still, it’s a nice thought, and it would allow all companies to offer the best devices they can.
Coming back to reality for a moment, Wozniak also revealed in the interview that he’s a Samsung Galaxy S III user. He said that he hopes the iPhone 5 will be able to snap better pictures that his Galaxy S III, since the S III’s camera delivers better results than his iPhone 4. He said the same about the Motorola DROID RAZR, so it looks like Woz is quite the avid Android user, despite being Apple’s co-founder. What do you think of Wozniak’s idea that everyone should exchange their patents?
You’d think Woz would be the most Apple biased person out there….but he’s not. He is extremely impartial and really loves tech for what it is….TECH! Hats off to you Woz!
Point exactly, that is why it would have been amazing if by some chance Woz wanted to fully get back in the industry and take Apple back for himself. He could do wonders.
This is why I love The Woz. He has always stayed true to his principles, regardless of how much money was being thrown around. This is a man who is all about bettering the world through technology…not just bettering his bank account.
The Woz for President!
Ive been spreading the exact same idea since these stupid patent wars started but with a twist. Many of the patents that crApple holds are patents that should never have been granted in the first damn place & need to be taken away or placed under the standerdized clause. The form factor of mobile devices should be one as well as the basic design of certain areas of the UI in an OS. These are both things that are known worldwide by certain colours & or shapes, things that span the language barriers being known globally. Things need to change in the mobile insustry to get back to just creating the best possible product for the end consumer.unfortunetly for crApple from what I hear Google has been going through what patents it has actually aquired when purchasing Motorola. One has to believe that since Motorola was the company that initially created the cellphone that they hold patents that could take down every single company that is producing cell phones at all. Since crApple is the only one causing problems in the industry they will be the only one targeted because Google doesnt believe in the patent tactics but they have to protect theur investments which include protecting those companies using Android as the heart of their products. CrApple has signed its own death certificate in other words.
-KID ANDROID (Team.Android.Canada)
> I wish everybody would just agree to exchange all the patents
That would be nice. But that’s not reality. But it’s fun to pretend, isn’t it?
I wish everyone would share all their food with starving people all over the world. All for free. Then all hunger would end instantly.
What a nice, fictional, dream-world we could then all live in.
Just because it’s not reality doesn’t mean it can’t become reality. Ideas aren’t reality, but they become so, and the world is better off because those ideas did become reality.
Too late if this is damage limitation to apples bully boy reputation. The damage is done and will only get worse for apple every time they’re in court.
Some patents are useful. The ones being abused by the cell manufacturers these days are ridiculous. I feel like you can have a patent on something specific, but it shouldn’t limit innovation.
Wozniak’s idea is a good one, seeing as how all parties could benefit, but it is flawed nonetheless — how can we stop the OEM’s from getting in these stupid patent wars if they think it will make them money?
Mr. Wozniak is coming from the Classical Hacker mentality that information and ideas should be shared. That was the pervasive thought in the circles he belonged to in the early years, but tech is big money now. I respect the man for his roots.
I don’t think he necessarily believes all patents should simply be shared. Some patents take millions and years to develop so it would be absurd to think someone would give it away. It seems to me he’s talking about the frivolous patents on UI design that some developers probably only spent a trivial amount of time tinkering with. If anything these ideas would belong under trademark protection and not a patent.
I wish Wozniak was Apple’s CEO these days…
It’s all about the money.
Software patents are damaging and should not be allowed. Hardware patents are a different mater. It is just bad for customers when Apple can stop Samsung, who make a better more innovative product, just because they used rectangles instead of triangles or circles. After all the ancient Egyptians should have the patent on triangles after all.