Thursday Apple Rumors: Second Key Apple Patent Rejected

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daily apple rumors AAPLHere are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for today:

Double Blow: The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has issued a preliminarily ruling that invalidates another critical Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) patent, The New York Times notes. The patent office has tentatively rejected Apple’s claims for the patent covering its “pinch to zoom” touchscreen technology. This is the second time in recent weeks that the Patent Office has rejected a major Apple patent on a preliminary basis. Earlier, it issued a tentative ruling invalidating Apple’s multi-touch patent, often referred to as the “Steve Jobs patent.” Both patents have been critical to Apple’s infringement suit against Samsung, which promptly notified the California court where Apple recently won a $1 billion damages award of the patent office’s latest decision. The rulings are preliminary as claims made under the patents are examined by regulators. Apple will certainly challenge these rulings, and the patents may be ultimately affirmed.

Rising Sales: On an average day last month, Apple’s App Store generated $15 million in sales, CNET notes. Apple’s daily sales through the App Store have risen 21% over the past four months, according industry research firm Distimo. By contrast, November’s average daily sales at Google‘s (NASDAQ:GOOG) rival Android app store, Google Play, were just $3.5 million. But that marked a 43% rise in Google Play’s average daily sales over the last four months. Distimo found the U.S. remains the largest market for app purchases. Japan ranks second, followed by the U.K. and Australia. Last month, seven apps accounted for 10% of all sales in the App Store.

Educating Down Under: Incoming students and faculty at Australia’s University of Western Sydney will get new iPads next year under an educational initiative, The Australian notes. Around 11,000 iPads will be distributed as part of changes to the school’s curriculum across its six campuses. The iPads are meant to help professors combine digital technology with traditional instruction to create a blended learning model. Apple has expanded volume purchasing programs to non-U.S. nations in an effort to build its presence in the international educational sector.

For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.


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