What you’re looking at on the left is the Apple’s new clock design in iOS 6 for the iPad. And on the right you’re looking at a famous clock design originally designed by Hans Hilfiker, the copyright to which is now owned by the Swiss Federal Railways Service.
Note the striking resemblance?
Needless to say, the Swiss Federal Railways Service (SBB) wasn’t entirely thrilled to see Apple rip off their intellectual property, especially considering that it’s already licensed to the Mondaine Group which manufactures a slew of watches with the very same design. In other words, avenues already exist for Apple to license out the design.
Apple, in somewhat typical fashion however, forged ahead without seeking permission, perhaps holding true to the sentiment that it’s sometimes better to ask for forgiveness than for permission.
The SBB, however, wants a financially fair resolution to the matter and have already contacted Apple to see if the two sides can come to terms.
We’ll keep you posted.
via Network World
Thu, Sep 27, 2012
Legal