Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

UK service providers must notify customers when they connect to a different network

New rules from UK telecoms regulator Ofcom will protect customers when they use their mobile phone on a foreign network. In addition, customers will be alerted if they are inadvertently roaming, perhaps because they're near an international border.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Global smartphone market is set for recovery, says new forecast

A new forecast from research specialists Canalys shows the smartphone market is set to recover next year. Worldwide shipments declined by 12% last year but that decline is expected to slow to 5% this year.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

New Hutchison/Vodafone network would be biggest UK operator

Vodafone Group plc and CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Limited have agreed to combine their UK telecommunication businesses, respectively Vodafone UK and Three UK. The merger will create a large new network operator to compete with Virgin Media O2 and EE.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

UK mobile payment service Paym to close in March 2023

UK mobile payment service Paym will close on 7th March 2023. The service, which allowed users to make and receive payments using their mobile phone numbers, was launched in 2014.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Which? seeks payout for Samsung and Apple smartphone owners

Consumer protection organisation Which? has been given permission by the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal to represent Apple and Samsung smartphone buyers in a legal case against chip manufacturer Qualcomm.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS

Opinion Articles

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Twitter promises that it will only use patents defensively

Mark Bridge writes:

There’s some kind of patent-related mobile technology story in the news most weeks. Whether this is the result of an innovation slow-down or the disruptive effect of newcomers on ‘traditional’ mobile manufacturers, there’s no denying it’s causing problems for many companies.

However, Twitter may have an answer. It’s just introduced what it’s calling the “Innovator’s Patent Agreement”, which includes a commitment that patents developed by its employees will only be used for defensive purposes. This level of control stays with the patent even if it’s sold.

In a blog post, Twitter VP of Engineering Adam Messinger said “This is a significant departure from the current state of affairs in the industry. Typically, engineers and designers sign an agreement with their company that irrevocably gives that company any patents filed related to the employee’s work. The company then has control over the patents and can use them however they want, which may include selling them to others who can also use them however they want. With the IPA, employees can be assured that their patents will be used only as a shield rather than as a weapon.”

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has added its support, describing the Innovator’s Patent Agreement as “an important tool in the fight to improve a broken patent system”.

Now, things aren’t necessarily as clear as you might expect. According to the IPA (which has been published online), companies that have taken any non-defensive patent action in the last ten years are fair game. And there are a fair number of other potential loopholes as well.

But this seems more than just a PR stunt. It’s a company saying it wants to win through innovation.

And for that, I wish them every success. Now, who’s next?

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Categories: Applications, OpinionNumber of views: 11692

Tags: opinion legal twitter

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Recent Podcasts

The Mobile Academy: a masterclass for mobile success

Podcast - 1st February 2013

The Mobile Academy offers a London-based masterclass designed to give you a helping hand with mobile innovation, whether you're an entrepreneur, a business owner, a developer or a designer.

We've been talking to Julia Shalet, Course Director of the Mobile Academy, to learn more about the next 10-week course.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: 5.0

Smartphones keep selling, Firefox goes mobile and BlackBerry prepares for launch

Podcast - 30th January 2013

The last of the 2012 quarterly results are coming in, so it's time to compare figures from the biggest mobile handset manufacturers.

We're also looking at Twitter's new video app, discussing the forthcoming Firefox OS and preparing for the BlackBerry 10 launch later today.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

UTuneMe introduces personalised audio advertising on smartphones

Podcast - 25th January 2013

In this special feature we're talking to Shankar Meembat, co-founder and CEO of Exaget, about the company's new UTuneMe service.

It lets broadcasters add targeted audio advertisements to radio programmes that are streamed onto smartphones.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Mobile payments, mobile retailing, mobile networks and mobile makers

Podcast - 23rd January 2013

It's another packed podcast this week, starting with mobile payments and ending with DIY mobile accessories.

We also cover manufacturing news, mobile VoIP calling, a new virtual network heading for the UK high street, shop closures, smart accessories and phablets.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

This week's mobile industry podcast, from hungry smartphones to high-street retailing

Podcast - 16th January 2013

We start this week with a look at troubled UK retailer HMV before moving on to research that sheds new light on mobile data usage.

You'll also find a new mapping app, increasing free WiFi coverage, a phone service designed for children and preliminary quarterly results from Samsung and Nokia.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: 5.0
RSS
First2324252628303132Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«November 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
28293031123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829301
2345678

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement