Apple is all aboard with licensing the Swiss clock icon

Kevin C. Tofel — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:31:15 +0000

Amidst all of the mobile licensing and patent disputes of late, one has been worked out: Apple has come to terms with the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and will pay licensing fee for the clock icon in iOS 6. Details of the agreement weren’t disclosed, but it’s a done deal according to SBB and reported on by The Verge.

Why is a deal needed at all? According to SBB, it’s a long-standing design icon that is an identifying image to the railway:

The Railway station clock was built in 1944 by engineer and designer Hans Hilfiker designed for SBB. It is a design icon, obvious matters in the digital age well. Special feature of the so-called “scoop dial” is the striking red second hand, which has the form of a signal trowel. To date, she is a symbol of innovation and reliability is an important identifying feature of the SBB and Switzerland represents.

What makes the situation most interesting is the irony of it. Apple recently won a $1.05 billion verdict from Samsung in the courts due to alleged design copying and patent infringement. Apple has been clear that it won’t tolerate companies that blatantly copy design cues from iOS or the devices that run it. And yet, in the case of this particular clock, that’s exactly what Apple did.

Regardless, it’s good to see both sides come to terms and a financial agreement. Maybe it’s time — no pun intended — for Apple and others to do the same.

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Apple is all aboard with licensing the Swiss clock icon