An analysis of apple’s patent to block recording

1. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
AN ANALYSIS OF APPLE’S PATENT
TO BLOCK RECORDING
P.ILANANGAI
IP CONSULTANT
PATENT DEPARTMENT

2. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
INTRODUCTION
• Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and
Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976, to develop and sell
personal computers.
• It was incorporated as Apple Computer, Inc. on January 3,
1977, and was renamed as Apple Inc. on January 9, 2007,
to reflect its shifted focus toward consumer electronics.
• Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology
company headquartered in Cupertino, California, that
designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics,
computer software, and online services.

3. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
APPLE PRODUCTS

4. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
APPLE PRODUCTS

5. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
LOGOS

6. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
• During 2013, Apple was issued 1,775 patents by the
USPTO, placing it 15th overall in terms of patenting
entities worldwide.
• The corporation has increased its investment in
innovation by at least 30 percent every year since
2010.
• Recently Apple was granted patent for system that
can block recording.
APPLE ‘S PATENT PORTFOLIO

7. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
The system including
a camera to detect images based on visible light, and
an image processing circuitry electrically coupled
to the camera.
This circuitry can determine whether the image
captured by the camera has any infrared signal
coded with data and if so, decode it.
US 9380225 titled “Systems and methods for receiving
infrared data with a camera designed to detect
images based on visible light”

8. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
• An electronic device can receive infrared data with a camera
that is designed to detect visible light.
• For example, an electronic device can include a camera for
capturing pictures or videos based on visible light and that
camera can also be used to receive infrared data. To prevent the
infrared data from interfering with the camera's other functions,
the electronic device may analyze the camera's outputs to
determine which images include an infrared signal with
encoded data. Accordingly, images that include an infrared
signal with encoded data can be routed to circuitry that can
decode the encoded data. The decoded data can then be used to
convey information to a user (e.g., through a display) or modify
the device's operation (e.g., apply a watermark to a detected
image or disable a function of the device).
US 9380225 titled “Systems and methods for receiving
infrared data with a camera designed to detect
images based on visible light”

9. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
• The patent describes two embodiments, one is in a place like museum,
wherein an infrared emitter may be kept near an artefact and it can
emit infrared signals with data that contains information about the
particular object, which can then be decoded using the system
proposed by Apple.
THE PROS AND CONS

10. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
• Another scenario is when an infrared emitter can send out
signals containing commands to disable recording devices. This
is useful in situations where recording is prohibited- say a
cinema hall or a concert.
THE PROS AND CONS

11. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
• Thus, spectators recording and illegally uploading the
recordings on video sharing websites without permission can be
stopped using this technology.
• Similarly, the disturbance caused to both the performer and
other viewers due to distracting flashlights emitted during
recording can also be curbed.
• Notably, many artists have expressed their displeasure at people
recording their performances.
American singer Alicia Keys Benedict Cumberbatch
THE PROS AND CONS

12. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
• The system patented by Apple acts as a sort of a technological
protection measure (TPM) which is a common form of Digital
Rights Management (“DRM”).
• As TPMs allow the copyright owner to place restrictions on the
use of a file, this system, if implemented, would allow the
performers and copyright holders to prevent the recording of
their performances and works and thereby obviating the
chances of infringement of their rights by illegal sharing of
these recordings.
• Also, this system, though may prove useful to performers and
copyright owners, runs the risk of overstepping the rights
granted by copyright law by imposing unnecessary restrictions.
• Disabling of recording would prevent the audience from
making recordings for even those purposes that do not amount
to infringement.
THE PROS AND CONS

13. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
• For instance, under section 38 of the Indian Copyright Act,
1957, the performers have the right to prevent recording of their
performances without their consent.
• However, as per section 39(a), they cannot prevent so if made
for private use or for bona fide teaching or research purposes.
• It could be potentially used by governments to prevent
protesters from recording visuals of police brutality or an illegal
crackdown.
• A mass movement like ‘Arab Spring’ was in large measure
made possible by people recording videos and live streaming
them to gather more support.
THE PROS AND CONS

14. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
• Recently, Democrats in the US used the tool ‘Periscope’ to put on air
live their protests against the gun control legislation, despite the
Republicans cutting off the video feed used by the cable television
network.
• Thus, despite the minor annoyances that recordings may cause, the
immense impact it has had on enabling a more open and democratic
society cannot be overlooked. A system like the one in question opens
up the possibility of both individuals and governments using it to
silence the voice of dissenters.
THE PROS AND CONS

15. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com
• The system patented by Apple may never be converted to a
viable product and introduced in the market, thereby avoiding
the possibility of such a technology being ever misused.
• Further, the system can only be used to disable phones that can
detect infrared signals.
• Thus, unless all the manufacturers join the bandwagon, it is not
going to be possible to disable all the devices out there.
• Nevertheless, considering that the most fundamental of civil
liberties is at stake, we would do well to raise our guards.
CONCLUSION

16. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com