Cupertino giant- Apple has been recently visiting courts to condemn companies who allegedly copy their ideas. The US jury even awarded
them a billion dollars for damages. But just like the good old saying “what
goes around comes around”, Apple in turn pays up for copying an idea. I bet
it’s what we call in layman’s term—KARMA!
Right after
Apple released its new operating system iOS 6 last month, Swiss railway
operator SBB shrieked that Apple copied its design for the clock display on its
latest iOS. The said design was created in 1944 by Hans Hilfiker for Swiss
Railway which synchronizes with a master time controller every minute to ensure
that all trains are running right on time. SBB spokesman Christian Ginsing said that the
clock design is copyrighted and is an SBB trademark.
Well, it won’t
hurt a little for Apple if it sliced up a chunk from its 1 billion award to pay
up Swiss Railways. In a statement released on Friday by SBB it says, “For the
use of the SBB station clock on devices like iPad and iPhone, the Swiss Federal
Railways SBB and Apple have agreed and signed a license agreement.”
It’s payback
time then for Apple. I just wonder how much was involved to license the said clock
design. But I guess, it’s never going to be a billion worth. Seems funny, how
small simple designs turn into headliners, even paychecks (really fat
paychecks).
Source: TheRegister
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