Apple's Siri may no longer be available in China as the U.S. company lost the lawsuit against Shanghai based Zhizhen Network Technology. The decision came after China's State Intellectual Property authority ruled that Zhizhen's patent of voice-controlled service, called Xiao i Robot is valid.
In its court filing, Zhizhen claimed that it has started with the speech recognition technology as early as 2003 and had applied for a patent in 2004 and had been granted in 2006. However, Apple countered that Siri used a different process in its voice-recognition tech. It can be noted that Siri software has become available on the iPhone 4S model only in 2011, which was developed by Siri Inc.in 2011.
A spokesman from Apple was quoted as saying, "Apple believes deeply in protecting innovation, and we take intellectual property rights very seriously. Apple created Siri to provide customers with their own personal assistant by using their voice. Unfortunately, we were not aware of Zhizhen's patent before we introduced Siri, and we do not believe we are using this patent. While a separate court considers this question, we remain open to reasonable discussions with Zhizhen."
Apple further said it would make an appeal with Beijing Higher People's court. However, if the iPhone maker's history with patent infringement is any indication, it will most likely end into a financial settlement. As the song goes, "It's all about the money." So, no need to worry that Apple will pull out its products.
Read more http://www.gizmobeast.com/apple/goodbye-siri-in-china.html
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Move over Siri, Google Now and Cortana! Blackberry Assistant is here . The app, together with Blackberry Passport smartphone, will be available starting this fall. The Assistant can perform various voice-activated tasks such as searching your inbox and calendar, access the web or social networks, writing and sending emails as well as creating calendar entries.
It is compatible with Bluetooth-enabled devices, making it suitable for hands-free car use. The new feature will also complete tasks using the Passport's new touch-sensitive physical keyboard, usually without leaving the app.
Clearly, an attempt to stay relevant, BlackBerry is fighting hard to catch up with iOS and Android. I'd say, it doesn't get better than this. After bouncing back with profits, now they introduce a new feature that would keep existing users and attract new followers.
(Score: 2) by WizardFusion on Thursday July 10 2014, @11:50AM
or
Apple didn't create, they bought the company and modified it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 10 2014, @11:57AM
Apple didn't create OSX either. AT&T, UCB, and NeXT made it for them. Apple is even less original than Microsoft.
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Thursday July 10 2014, @03:24PM
... by removing the cross platform capability that was planned.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Thursday July 10 2014, @04:14PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 10 2014, @11:52AM
Oh good! Soon, China will be as innovative as America: not at all. So who will be next to lead the world? I've heard good things about Africa.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 10 2014, @02:24PM
Africa? Seriously? The whole continent?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Nerdfest on Thursday July 10 2014, @03:28PM
This why software patents are ridiculous. I *really* hate to defend Apple, but this is what I keep saying is the problem. Patents are supposed to protect an implementation; a method of solving a problem. If someone comes up with a better piece of software, or a better machine to solve the same problem, it shouldn't infringe on the patent. Basically, many software patents simply cover *any* solution to a specific problem. In some cases they don't even have a working implementation, meaning they've effectively patented the idea of solving a specific problem.
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Thursday July 10 2014, @03:30PM
I should also add that all else aside, Apple very much deserves this, I just wish it was a more core piece of their business.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Thursday July 10 2014, @04:17PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Thursday July 10 2014, @04:55PM
If Apple is using a different technology, it leaves the problem I described above; that simply solving the same problem infringes on their 'patent'. It's absurd.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Thursday July 10 2014, @05:23PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 1) by starsky51 on Thursday July 10 2014, @12:59PM
"Dat's just siri!"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 10 2014, @04:36PM
I hope and bet we're soon going to see a lot more lawsuits like this in China. That's what super powers do.
(Score: 2) by AnythingGoes on Thursday July 10 2014, @10:16PM
Sooner or later, FoxConn and others are going to just set a new sales and marketing arm and then start distributing its own iClones.
I mean look at Dell - many years ago, Asus (Pegatron) was their contract manufacturer, nowadays it is a very big competitor that made them go private.
China is starting to take IP protection seriously as its own companies start doing more esign and devlopment work, so it is only a matter of time before all these Chinese companies start suing and winning more cases against US/EU companies