Apple sues Samsung over design of phones, tablets
updated 04:20 pm EDT, Mon April 18, 2011
Claims products copy look and feel of iPhone, iPad
Apple is suing South Korea's Samsung over the look and feel of some of its products, says the Wall Street Journal. Court documents were originally submitted on April 15th in the Northern District of California, and allege that several products in particular are violating Apple's intellectual property rights. These include the Nexus S, Epic 4G and Galaxy S 4G smartphones, as well as the Galaxy Tab, the first tablet considered a serious iPad competitor.
"Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple's technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products," the lawsuit complains. Neither Apple nor Samsung have so far commented publicly. The Journal notes that the lawsuit could potentially complicate the companies' already conflicted relationship, in which Samsung supplies drives and chipsets to Apple while also making competing devices.
All of the products are notably based on Google's Android OS. Apple has come under increasing pressure from the platform, which by January this year had grown to seize 29 percent of the US smartphone market, putting it ahead of both iPhones and BlackBerries. Android tablets like the Galaxy Tab and the Motorola Xoom have not had much impact so far, but an increasing number of products are expected by the end of the year.
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Joined: Nov 2009
If you can't innovate...
Litigate.
>>>Apple is suing South Korea's Samsung over the look and feel of some of its products
Look and feel? Pleeese.
Touchscreens have been around longer than Apple's products. UI may have evolved but that's about it.
That's like Benz trying to suit everyone for making an automobile with a steering wheel, seats and four wheels. After all, they all copied the "Look and Feel" of the Benz.
Another useless lawsuit.