Comment on BlackBerry's iconic keyboard patent has expired
kamen@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Can someone explain how something as generic as a keyboard can be a subject to patents?
Comment on BlackBerry's iconic keyboard patent has expired
kamen@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Can someone explain how something as generic as a keyboard can be a subject to patents?
cellardoor@lemmy.world 2 days ago
TL:DR patents are important, but easily abused.
Yes, I’ll try.
Patents can cover many aspects of design. Sometimes, these aspects are positive and deserve protection for the original inventors. Other times, the claims could be so obscure and ‘thats obvious to anyone’ that it’s a waste to protect them - but (sometimes ignorant) patent attorneys fail to do their research and award patents anyway.
It could be that the keyboard being below the screen in that form factor was considered novel. It could be the trackball used in the centre. It could be the two combined, then attached to a phone. It could be the shaping and ergonomic aspect of the keyboard. It could be raises or detents to aid location of keys for fast typing on a handheld device.