Core77

A Long, Long Time Ago, in a Galaxy that Looks a Little Too Much Like Our Goddamn iPhone

By Rain Noe - April 19, 2011

in Object Culture | Design Business

Apple's no stranger to being ripped off, with a history of experiencing the "sincerest form of flattery" starting with the Windows operating system, moving on through iPod clones and lightweight laptops. And they've been on both sides of lawsuits before, mostly dealing with their products' underpinnings. But now they're hitting back on the design front, filing a lawsuit against Samsung that covers "trade dress," the physical design of their products.

"It's no coincidence that Samsung's latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging," an Apple representative told Mobilized. "This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple's intellectual property when companies steal our ideas."

...In addition to the patent and trademark claims, Apple also alleges infringement of the "trade dress" of the iPhone and iPad, a legal term meaning they sure look a whole lot alike. Apple charges that everything from the icons on the Galaxy screen to the way the phone is packaged infringe on Apple's designs.

"Samsung's Galaxy Tab computer tablet also slavishly copies a combination of several elements of the Apple Product Configuration Trade Dress," Apple says in its suit, noting that Samsung's tablet, like Apple's, uses a similar rectangular design with rounded corners, similar black border and array of icons.

...and our lawyers.

Samsung is thus far unrepentant and has vowed to "respond actively," whatever that means.

For those who are fans of mobile device litigation trails rendered into infographics, refer to this spate of flowcharts from last year.

o

Favorite This
Q
8

Comment

Comments

Manu

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

@Ken comparing the fact that Apple's designs are often inspired by 1960's Braun products and this obvious patent infringement is stretching it... to say the least.

Like Apple or not, they are in they right mind to sue Samsung over this, the only question would be: why so late?
!Report as spam
Adam

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

I am a big fan of Apple but this lawsuit seems unnecessary, I really wonder who gave clearance for this. Are iPhone and iPad sales down or something?? From what I can see Samsung definitely ripped of their UI, but their casing looks like an older iPhone...let this one go I say! but hell what do I know I'm not in the mobile tech industry.
!Report as spam
Ken

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

How about Samsung pays Bruan and Dieter Rams for the license to this iconic style, then sues Apple? Maybe just be happy with what you got, if you got it from someone else in the first place...
!Report as spam
TC

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

I think Apple should let this one slide considering almost every component in their iphones are manufactured by Samsung.
!Report as spam
Bill@ etf trend trading review

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

I guess, Apple is trying too hard to make us believe they are the only ones driving technology and innovation. I like Apple products, and seems that this time they have a point against Samsung. They look very similar.
!Report as spam
Andrew

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

You forgot to mention the fact that both have screens. How dare they!
!Report as spam
Solozaur

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

What is Apple smoking? You got a tablet that looks like a rectangular, and u got a phone that looks like a rectangular, all phones are rectangular.

Next time make a better design, it's like soccer ball makers complaining others footballs are round...
!Report as spam
John

13 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

"Respond actively" -- to stop providing the "magical" CPUs for Apple.
!Report as spam