Apple to pay Swiss for copying clock

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CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Apple, which has spent a fair amount of time in courts over copyright issues, says it will pay up rather than contest a claim it copied an iconic Swiss clock.

Swiss railway operator SBB took the California company to task last month for allegedly copying its famously accurate rail station clocks for the design of iOS 6's Clock app.

Rather than contest the allegation Apple has agreed to pay up and license the design from SBB, theregister.co.uk reported Friday.

The clock face was designed for the SBB in 1944 by engineer and designer Hans Hilfiker, and the railway owns the rights to the design, which it says is "a symbol of innovation and reliability is an important identifying feature of the SBB and represents Switzerland."

SBB's clocks are known for their accuracy, as all the railway station clocks synchronize with a master time controller every minute, ensuring passengers are provided with accurate times.