Doesn't this seem like abusing the patent system?

yddet12 · #1 09-30-2012, 05:20 PM

Apparently Bose has patented the concept of a clock radio with no physical buttons. They have a patent for "REMOTELY CONTROLLING SOUND SYSTEM IN ENCLOSURE", i.e. "A sound reproducing system having at least a radio and left and right loudspeakers in a base enclosure is free of at least manually selectable volume controlling and radio tuning[.] A remote controller includes at least manually selectable volume and tuning controls."

Does this mean nobody else can make a clock radio without physical buttons? Seems like abuse of the patent system to me. Thoughts?

ebacon · #2 09-30-2012, 06:02 PM

Bose does not have such a patent. What they do have is a pending patent application. It is a continuation of an application that was filed in 2004.

Since the USPTO hasn't allowed it yet then they probably won't.

Here is the application for curious readers.

finnbow · #3 09-30-2012, 07:35 PM

Damn. And Bose is my favorite brand of audio equipment.

ebacon · #4 09-30-2012, 08:01 PM

hehe.

Mr. Bose's counsel might have trouble getting this patent allowed after the young inventors with the SliMP3 player. They did a remote-only stereo/clock about 2001.

I have an early one and loved their work. Their first web page showed their workbench, parts, soldering iron, and an open bottle of Heineken. That's how garage inventions happen.

My guess is Mr. Bose needs this patent as a defensive measure against Logitech. Logitech bought out SliMP3.

finnbow · #5 09-30-2012, 08:03 PM

I'll cop to having been a Bose 901 Series IV owner back in the late '70's through the '80's. When I bought them, they were the cat's meow - actually a good party speaker in the right room.

ebacon · #6 09-30-2012, 08:10 PM

My dad was also a big fan of Bose 901 speakers in the 1970s. His friend bought a pair and brought them over to our quarters for a demo. That was a fun night. I was only about twelve years old but the party instilled me with the spirit that is AK and SMAC.

Music is societal glue.

merrylander · #7 10-01-2012, 06:32 AM

Look at what the patent office granted Apple for their iPhone, Bose will likely get it.

ebacon · #8 10-01-2012, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merrylander

Look at what the patent office granted Apple for their iPhone, Bose will likely get it.

Apple has mostly design patents. Bose's application is for a utility patent which is much harder to get.

Design and utility patents are different animals.