Swiss railway, watch firms angry over new iPad Clock app

Two Swiss companies -- Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and watchmaker Mondaine -- are considering pursuing Apple over the new Clock app in the iPad version of <a href="http://macnn.com/rd/268562==http://www.ipodnn.com/articles/12/09/19/adds.new.maps.app.passbook.wider.siri.support/" rel='nofollow'>iOS 6</a>, according to <em>Blick.ch</em>. The look of the clocks in the app is said to resemble a design originally used in Swiss railway stations and currently licensed by Mondaine. A spokesman for SBB, Reto Kormann, says that the railway has already contacted Apple, while Mondaine CEO Andre Bernheim has <A href="http://www.blick.ch/news/wirtschaft/apple-klaut-bahnhofs-uhr-der-sbb-id2040821.html">confirmed</a> an intent to go after Apple.<br><br>iOS 6 is the first edition of iOS to include a native iPad Clock app; previously iPad owners had to download third-party software. The app can track times in several cities simultaneously, also displaying local weather. More importantly it includes native alarm, timer, and stopwatch functions, which can be important for travel or bedside use.

I did some investigation and they are very similar (if not exact) and there is a US patent covering the watch (gets crazy with one patent referencing a bunch of others) but this is one of those products that should be considered generic by now. A watch/clock has 60 tick marks, 12 or which are larger. That's a typical clock. The fact Apple made the ticks as square end lines has been done many times. The red second sweep hand might be what gets them in trouble but even if they changed to a green or blue one, how many versions of the same basic, accepted design can you make and have the patent office patent?

I'm not talking about round corners after all....

Like I've said before, crApple isn't even trying anymore... they feel they can just walk all over respected territories and pay the price later behind closed doors... I know I know, other companies do it too, but look at how crApple sets an example... total hypocrisy.

I hope Apple can give us a calculator and weather widget over the next 2 iOS updates that would make the iPad perfect :-P

Just take the red dot off the seconds hand, and it'll be fine.

It's about as generic a design as you can have, otherwise... Though that this slipped by Apple is an indication of an ever increasing lack of attention to certain details (the LTE ipad fiasco was another such incident).

Nope. Not going to happen. Steve's rules.

or the people who made the decision didn't realize that it was a copy of a physical watch or train station that was patented (I'd never seen either physical item before)
unless of course there are emails at apple saying to "just do it" when warned ;)

Most likely the appearance will be changed in 6.0.1

http://forum-images.macnn.com/import/image_5680.jpgSwiss clock problem solved.

Or perhaps the easiest solution would be to match the Clock design used on the iPhone version.

I suppose it's an oversight by the designer ("saw this somewhere...though it was cool!") more so than the conspiracy theory set forth by blahblahbber. But agree with bdmarsh that this will probably be quickly resolved in a 6.0.1 update.

".... and in shock news, Apple buys Swiss Federal Railways and watchmaker Mondaine. Shares rise to $800."

I love the bite-out-of-the-apple idea for the second hand. But I don't like the look of the clockface. Too bad it was obviously ripped off. I hope Apple has the good sense to 1. Pay the railway and 2. Change the design. Are design patents timeless and forever? This one has been around for over fifty years. I think the Eiffel Tower is another one that's fairly well-owned.

Apple hires Samsung lawyer, who claims that Apple is innocent of copying because hands on Apple's implementation are two microns SHORTER than the Mondaine version." :lol:

And in shock news, Apple sues the socks off Swiss Federal Railways and watchmaker Mondaine over trade dress...

There, fixed it for you.

Whoa, you are a total comedian. Didn't know you had it in you... :thumbsdow