A Field of Dreams for Apple Watch
In a legal battle that has recently been waged in the US Court of Appeals, Apple entrenched itself in a battle to overturn a ban that had been placed on their Apple Watch. Apple had initially been blocked from selling the Apple Watch in Mexico, but now the tech giant’s dreams may soon be a reality.
The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property had previously imposed the ban, claiming that the design of the Apple Watch was too similar to a rival company’s patent. Apple, in response, argued that the design of their product was unique and had enough distinction to justify its protection on the market.
After Apple cited the legal jargon known as “functional integration”, which binds aesthetic beauty to the intended purpose of a product, the Court of Appeals decided that the design of the Apple Watch had enough unique elements to protect itself as an original creation.
The Court ultimately determined that Apple should receive the same protection as any other product that is released, and that the ban should be lifted. This decision marks an important milestone in the global battle for patent protection for tech developers.
The tech industry, and specifically Apple, will now be encouraged to demonstrate creativity in their products, as patents have once more been granted for products that are architected with innovative designs.
For consumers, this decision gives them relief as now they can update their favorite Apple devices without the question of legality looming over their heads.
Apple’s legal victory in this case will serve as the blueprint for future legal battles in the tech industry. With high-tech devices being released at an exponential rate, the pressure on companies to produce devices that are both aesthetically pleasing and functionally sound will continue to increase.
In the wake of Apple’s success, the tech industry now has a newfound sense of legal security that will hopefully encourage further development and push the industry into bold new heights.
“Appeals Court Upholds Lifeline for Apple Watch!
