Week 10, Post 19: Apple's patent is invalidated

http://www.fosspatents.com/2013/04/apples-slide-to-unlock-patent.html

So I guess this is pretty big news. Apple has had this patent which makes the 'slide to unlock' feature of the iPhone, iPad, iWhatever. Apple has been using this against their competitors, but just loss in Germany against Google/Motorola. 
   The German courts hold that the idea of unlocking the device through a swipe mechanism is just not patentable. Why? Because everyone phone needs to be able to do it. The sliding feature is much more of a visual then anything else, and therefore was deemed not a technical innovation. 
   I have to agree with the German courts on this ruling. Every touch screen needs a mechanism of unlocking their phone to let the phone know that we are actually in attempt to utilize it, not that it's touch screen was brushed. After reading this article, I went on my own search to find a touch screen device that didn't utilize some sort of swipe mechanism and couldn't find any! 
   I feel that Apple is just trying to use their power and wealth to slow down other competitors over petty things like how to unlock your phone.