IBM Patents Putting Handprints On Laptops

theodp writes "You can still leave your handprint in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theater. But as of Tuesday, you best not do the same on a laptop, lest you infringe on IBM's new patent for the Portable Computer with a Hand Impression, an 'invention' that Big Blue explains makes balancing the portable computer on a user's hand easier."

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[Anonymous Coward]

...you best not do the same on a laptop, [and then produce it for sale to other people] lest you infringe on IBM's new patent for the Portable Computer with a Hand Impression, ...

Patents don't stop you from doing things, they stop you from making money for doing said things.

It's another biometrics toy.

[Sierran]

The handprint is there, claims the patent, in order to facilitate the 'proper carrying' of the 'computing device.' However, I don't think I've ever carried my laptop balanced like a waiter's tray, or held it to my side while closed without wrapping the carrying hand around the edge underneath it for support. What they do say, buried in the patent, is that the patent also covers the use of 'biometric devices' inside the handprint, presumably for identity verification. If so, I"m not sure how this any better than a fingerprint port, unless they plan to have biometrics cover the entire print or even all five fingers - which will be more expensive for dubious additional security.

Re:It's another biometrics toy.

[Dachannien]

It's not really "buried in the patent". It's mentioned right up front in claim 1, and the headline for this article seems oblivious to that point.

Not obvious?

[Bombula]

Unless I'm mistaken, only non-obvious inventions can be protected by patents. Even if something is novel, useful, or a new combination of existing ideas, it must still be non-obvious to be patentable.

Re:I don't get it...

[cerelib]

I have to agree. This is a pretty straight forward improvement to an invention patent. The patent seems to be specific on many details of implementation. It is also specific enough that it probably can't rule out any possible use of a hand impression on a portable device. While it may not be the most novel and innovative idea, it is a far cry from the software/process patents that usually appear in the "Your Rights Online" section.

Patents hinder progress.

[Anonymous Coward]

As a software engineer working in a small company, I can clearly state that patents have hindered progress in our field.

What's more, we are too small to build a large enough defensive patent portfolio, so in addition to hindering innovation, patents open us for attack from larger companies without any chance of recourse, because we do violate many obvious patents (there's no way not to).