Apple Awarded Multi-Touch Patent

Apple has been awarded a patent that has in the past been nicknamed "The iPhone Patent." The ginormous patent is 358 pages long and incorporates six other related patents as far back as September 2006. The patent also includes more than just words, there are also several diagrams displaying just exactly how the invention is said to work. The most important part of this patent is that it includes Apple's own multi-touch invention.

A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises: detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display, applying one or more heuristics to the one or more finger contacts to determine a command for the device, and processing the command.

Did you get all of that? To sum it up, the patent is describing what you have already done with your fingers on your iPhone. Now Tim Cook and company should have no difficulty defending their IP against that other unnamed company. It's worth mentioning that Steven P. Jobs is listed as one of the inventors, he's actually first on the list. [via MacRumors]

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