Of course, no one would expect that you would need a stable ground state in order to detect variations from that ground state ...

or that one needs to align glass to accurately form it .... whow - that is ground breaking 'new' technology ....

I think Apple owns the U.S. patent office and some of the courts.

If this keeps up, they'll corner the market on all knowledge and technology.

Wow. They get to patent shaping glass?!

Fundamental forces and fundamental circuits should not be patentable. Period.

I am not going to say that these patents are worthy or not, but it seems people actually think you can patent an idea.

"Of course, no one would expect that you would need a stable ground state in order to detect variations from that ground state"

They are not patenting the grounding of the glass, they are patenting the way in which they are grounding the glass.

And it is not that they are patenting aligning glass to form it they are patenting a method to align glass to form it.

Consider they are making thousands of glass screen covers per day. the process needs to be fast, and extremely accurate and repeatable. Aligning the glass to a precision of micrometers is not an easy process to do thousands of times a day, if you can do that without the current chemicals and gasses, than maybe you have something.

A patent is only given for a new and useful process/method, machine, or composition of matter, or significantly new and useful improvement of these things.

A patent is only given for a new and useful process/method, machine, or composition of matter, or significantly new and useful improvement of these things.

Except that patents actually stick around for decades, generations, or even centuries now, giving a corporation a permanent monopoly on technology, because a competitor can't use the same process even if they figure out how to do it, and even if it's the best thing available within the known laws of physics. This means competitors are required to use inferior technology, forever, even if they know how to make the patented, more advanced technology. This is NOT what was intended by patent laws.

Of course, no one would expect that you would need a stable ground state in order to detect variations from that ground state ...

or that it requires a patent.

All these patents are is ammunition for future lawsuits. They are like money in the bank, and represent an entire business model. The are going to become the next SCO Group.

@lurker - no, even Apple doesn't get to patent molding glass. What Apple (or anyone who invents one) can patent is a NEW way of molding glass.

If the patent office found that this way was not new, they would not issue the patent.
Te patent office does makes mistakes, especially in new fields like software and business models where they lack experience and history, but you can point out their mistakes and they will revoke the patent.

Also, as the article states, the patent only cover the new way of shaping glass: holding the glass in place with alignment members that move away from the glass as the mold is heated, thereby allowing the glass to slump.

And patents do not stick around for centuries. They stick around for 20 years from date of filing, so even if this becomes an issued patent it would expire in 2029.

Except that patents actually stick around for decades, generations, or even centuries now, giving a corporation a permanent monopoly on technology, because a competitor can't use the same process even if they figure out how to do it, and even if it's the best thing available within the known laws of physics. This means competitors are required to use inferior technology, forever, even if they know how to make the patented, more advanced technology. This is NOT what was intended by patent laws.

... Patents are good in the US for 20 years, and then they expire. You might be thinking of copyrights, which are much longer, or trademarks, which don't expire as long as they are properly maintained.

Design patents (like the "rounded corners" patent) last for 14 years before expiry.

This is what we can do to prevent massacres of innocent children
A) Prohibit the sale of automatic weapons.
B) All gun owners must have a special box with combination lock and special to keep their weapons.
C) The government should initiate a program of recovery of weapons, firearms by changing food supplies and electronics. (If you do not ask the origin of weapon, weapons succeed in recovering thousands)

D) The government should strengthen psychological care programs for young people with special attention to the following points:
1) Constant control of the problem of bullying in schools.
2) special psychological support to young people with problems
Social adaptation. We can improve the self-esteem of these young people, we can increase the feeling of love and empathy for these young people.
We create activities in which these young people get the joy of achieving goals.
We create activities that feel triumphant and successful.
We create activities in which young people learn to help yourself and others is the most important goal of every human being.
If we find ways to fill the minds of young love for themselves and for others and if we teach them to reason to control their actions, then the crime rate will drop.

E) We must create laws to reduce violence in movies and video games. Many films are literally manuals for serial murderers and terrorists.
Video games record the cold-blooded murder in the minds of children. It's almost hypnotic.
Of course, many will defend the rights of film producers and rights of producers of video games. But I tell you that not all of these people millions in profits worth the life of one child.
They can not put more value on money than the life of a child.
A depraved mind by these vices is easy to recognize because those who are depraved defend those who trade in death and perversion rather than advocate for children.
F) Place electronic bookmarks in various weapons and warning systems in parking lots and public places to alert guards near a weapon.
G) Provide schools bulletproof vests and nonlethal weapons very efficient. Each school would have at least three teachers with bulletproof vest and nonlethal weapons.

H) Create systems technology and automatic defenses nonlethal schools would cost infinitely less than the American space program. It's a matter of priorities. What is worth more to you, find out if there are microbes on Mars, or prevent a child from being crushed to death?
The army can handle remote warehouses to fight, in the same way the army can be remotely controlled robots with lethal weapons to fight murderers. The army robots are now clever enough to get from one place to another quickly.
I) must track smarter psychological state and history of violence of gun owners.

J) Those who wish to marry and have children should be educated by the government on a special course that teaches basic notions of morality and proper education of the children (including teaching how to stop coddling the children) Couples can marry if approved the examination after the course "family education". Raising a family is a big responsibility and many couples who marry believe that raising children is like having pets.
K) we put military guards in schools. Female soldier armed with lethal weapons and high-tech guns.
L) These guards should have an excellent personal armor.
M) I once saw a nonlethal weapon throwing jets of glue which hardens rapidly.
N) On another occasion I saw an air cannon that shoots huge networks.

O) There is a system of non-lethal sonic weapon.
P) Destinemos billionaire budget used by NASA to fund the system of military guards in schools. The money spent on NASA remote controlled toys is so unreasonably high that with this huge amount of money is enough to put military guards and armored silicon firearms in all public places in the United States. (The guards must be women with clean police record and not to use drugs and must be continually educated in a moral and logical based on love of neighbor) (Ideally guards are groups of three)