Filed in 2008 and granted by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office this week, Apple has been awarded a patent for filtering text message content.
The patent is titled “Text-based communication control for personal communication device.”
It is unclear whether the patent will ever find its way into an iOS product but it seems Apple’s intention is to cut down on “offensive” texts sent from consumers using Apple devices.
Reads the patent: “One problem with text-based communications is that there is no way to monitor and control text communications to make them user appropriate. For example, users such as children may send or receive messages (intentionally or not) with parentally objectionable language.”
Additionally, the patent proposes a way to encourage better grammar in texts. The filtering system can not really work without proper grammar, as many phone users write in shorthand or use words that may not necessarily be in a dictionary, like “LOL.”
Apple’s patent would disallow the use of non-dictionary words.
Result for: trademark office
Dish Network and Echostar have won a victory this week over TiVo, with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office claiming TiVo’s patent claims for “time warp” DVR tech are invalid.
The updated ruling comes after the PTO reexamined the patents for a second time.
TiVo said it would follow the ruling with additional arguments.
The decision could still lead to the satellite companies paying damages to TiVo, but the new PTO ruling could still have long-term ramifications in TiVo’s other cases against AT&T and Verizon, says the WSJ.
All the companies have been fighting for years over the patents to the technology that allows for pausing, rewind and fast-forwarding of live TV.
In 2006, Dish and EchoStar were found liable of patent infringement when they began creating their own set-top boxes. The companies are currently in “en banc review,” which will spell out the legal ramifications of the case.
Most expect TiVo to win.
Result for: trademark office
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has denied Google’s application to trademark “Nexus One.”
For Google, the rejection is not yet final, giving the search giant a chance to submit more evidence as well as new arguments.
“Registration of the applied-for mark is refused because of a likelihood of confusion with the mark in U.S. Registration No. 3554195,” wrote the USPTO.
No. 3554195 is a trademark of the word “Nexus” that was registered years ago by Integra Telecom, an 11-state wireline phone provider.
For their part, Integra thanked the USPTO for protecting its trademark and says they hope to work out a deal with Google. Adds John Nee, Integra’s vice president of corporate communications: “Google hasn’t contacted us since the PTO issued its objection but we hope we can work together to achieve our respective business goals.”
