A couple of days ago we found this interesting link: http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2014/08/apple-wins-a-patent-for-an-e-clapperboard-for-tv-film-industry.html
“Apple” got a digital clapper (e-Clapperboard) and a digital on-set metadata-workflow patented. A lot of developers of the field were like: „Whaaaaat?“
Will products, which are already on the market, face legal trouble now? Does “Apple” really want to start something with this patent or did they just secure a workflow idea haphazardly?
We’d like to put you a little bit at ease about this:
- Some details in the text point to the assumption, that they did not completely delve into the subject (e. g.: for Apple the script supervisor is on the clapper).
- It is very likely that the market is too small for this company.
- Even if they are onto something: Awesome! Everything, that brings publicity to the topic, is more than welcome!
This way or another: This shows the vision of Apple as they applied for this patent already in 2008, a time when on-set metadata was at its very beginning.