RIM Patent Targets Sneaky Cell Phone Photographers

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Patent application was filed on New Year's Day.

With most smartphones coming with front and rear-facing cameras, it's never been easier to take photos on the go, especially the kind of photos that you're trying to take on the sly. However, it seems RIM is looking out for the greater good and hoping to cut down on the number of sneaky photos being taken with cell phones. The company has applied for a patent that attempts to stop people from using their phones to take 'inconspicuous' photos.

"As more handheld devices incorporate camera functionalities, organizations and individuals with privacy concerns are more vulnerable to unauthorized disclosure," RIM explained. "The camera restriction prevents a user from taking a picture of a subject if the device has not been steadily focused on the subject in question for a predetermined period of time. In short, this process extends the normal camera-taking procedure and thus requires the camera user to take pictures in a conspicuous manner--the rationale being that a camera user would be less likely to take unauthorized pictures if such actions could be easily recognized."

RIM says the camera restrictions in question can be communicated to the device via wireless network and as part of an IT policy, which should come in handy for companies worried about snap-happy spies.

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Jane McEntegart

Jane McEntegart works in marketing communications at Intel and was previously Manager of Content Marketing at ASUS North America. Before that, she worked for more than seven years at Tom's Guide and Tom's Hardware, holding such roles as Contributing Editor and Senior News Editor and writing about everything from smartphones to tablets and games consoles.

23 Comments Comment from the forums
  • gtvr
    So now you can't take action shots? Sports photography? This is just going to cause problems.
    Reply
  • Hupiscratch
    It's RIM way to say it want to bankrupt faster. Not that somebody goes after a Blackberry for it's camera capabilities, but this is like those intrusive DRM: the good guy will suffer while the bad guy will find an easy way.
    Reply
  • chronicbint
    One of the criteria I look for in a smartphone is the ability to take a decent picture quickly. This is such a pointless feature.
    Reply
  • freggo
    Great Idea !
    As the RIM stock is not falling fast enough come up with an idea to turn off potential buyers by fiddling with the camera's performance.
    Never mind 'sneaky' photos; what about emergency situations?
    Like you witness a hit and run and want to take a quick shot of the vehicle
    that is quickly leaving the accident scene.

    Those who want to take 'sneaky' photos will still do so; they simply switch to a different phone or device.
    Reply
  • dns7950
    What a stupid, useless patent... Let me get this straight, they want to make it so you have to hold up your camera for a while before you can take a picture?? So if you see something happening that you really want a picture of, you might miss it because the company says it's a privacy concern to be able to snap quick shots?? Who in their right mind would purchase a phone with such a "feature".. I certainly would't. What a retarded idea, whoever thought of that is a total moron... There are so many many situations in which it's not feasible to be able to hold the camera focused on the subject, where you just have to snap a pic and hope it's a good one.
    Reply
  • mikenygmail
    dns7950What a stupid, useless patent... Let me get this straight, they want to make it so you have to hold up your camera for a while before you can take a picture?? So if you see something happening that you really want a picture of, you might miss it because the company says it's a privacy concern to be able to snap quick shots?? Who in their right mind would purchase a phone with such a "feature".. I certainly would't. What a retarded idea, whoever thought of that is a total moron... There are so many many situations in which it's not feasible to be able to hold the camera focused on the subject, where you just have to snap a pic and hope it's a good one.
    I agree completely, this is the worst idea in the history of bad ideas.
    Reply
  • fnh
    I know they're called Research in Motion, but they didn't have take it so literally to their cameras.
    Reply
  • What's next RIM? Integrate a gun on Blackberry devices that only shoots your own foot?
    Reply
  • 87ninefiveone
    If they want to protect privacy for the greater good then why did they patent it?
    Reply
  • jadedmonkey28
    RIM is still in business?????? Getting patents like this it makes you wonder why people even consider them these days as a worthwhile phone provider.
    Reply