Q: If I were to make an app/webpage that used the left and right swipe method could I be sued?
A:
Your question is a patent question not a copyright question. What you are asking is whether there is any patent where you plan to operate that would cover left and right swipe. This is known as a freedom-to-operate question. In other words do you have freedom to operate as you plan or is there someone with patent rights that could sue you if you acted in this way. See https://www.flynniplaw.com/services/legal-services/freedom-to-operate/opinions
This is a serious question and should be answered only by someone that has done the work to look for relevant patents. You should hire a patent attorney to provide you an answer. You could do some preliminary searching using tips found at http://bit.ly/Patent_Searching to prepare for the first meeting with the patent attorney so that you know what sort of detail is present in patents and what a patent claim looks like.
I hope this helps.
Kevin E Flynn
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
