Apple Stole Rounded Rectangle From Sony Who Stole It From Sinclair Who… at Robert Pogson

Really, there is nothing unusual about rounded rectangles:

Apple is suing Samsung claiming Samsung stole it from Apple but
Apple stole it from Sony,
who may have copied it from Sinclair,
who may have copied it from Star Trek,
who may have got it from the Ancients…
and they probably rounded the corners to keep them from breaking.

“A recent court filing by Samsung reveals that in 2006 Apple industrial designer Shin Nishibori was directed to design an iPhone prototype inspired by Sony’s aesthetics after Tony Fadell internally circulated an interview with a designer from the company. An assortment of renders reveal his design, complete with a Sony logo — save for one where the logo has been modified to read "Jony," presumably in honor of Apple’s Jony Ive.”

see Apple Stole iPhone Design From Sony, Patented It And Sued Everyone Else – Muktware.

More at Apple v. Samsung: 5 Surprising Reveals in Latest Court Documents

This is one of several reasons why I hold Apple in low esteem. My contempt is compounded by their hypocrisy and the courts’ deference to them.

My Mission

My observations and opinions about IT are based on 40 years of use in science and technology and lately, in education. I like IT that is fast, cost-effective and reliable. I do not care whether my solution is the same as yours. I like to think for myself.

My first use of GNU/Linux in 2001 was so remarkably better than what I had been using, I feel it is important work to share GNU/Linux with the world. I have been blessed by working in schools where students and school systems have benefited by good, modular software easily installed in most systems.

I have shown GNU/Linux to thousands of students and hundreds of teachers over the years and will continue in some way doing that until I die in spite of the opposition.

4 Responses to “Apple Stole Rounded Rectangle From Sony Who Stole It From Sinclair Who…”

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1 Ivan Jul 30th, 2012 at 8:24 am

Even Google told Samsung not to do that:

Google told Samsung that its “P1” and “P3” Android tablets — the devices that would become the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab 10.1 — looked “too similar” to Apple’s iPad. Google demanded “distinguishable design vis-à-vis the iPad for the P3.” This information was included in an unredacted trial brief.

Then again if you want to support cheap knockoffs…
2 Robert Pogson Jul 30th, 2012 at 8:41 am

Advice from a neighbour is not legally binding…
3 oldman Aug 1st, 2012 at 3:29 pm

“Advice from a neighbour is not legally binding…”

Irrelevant. Google the creator of the OS that Samsung relied on to make their product demanded that they avoid a design that too closely copied a major competitor. Samsung was obviously not bound to take googles demand into consideration (stupid contract writing on googles part IMHO). If Samsung is not lucky, this fact will server as evidence of willful infringement on apples patent.
4 Robert Pogson Aug 1st, 2012 at 9:12 pm

oldman wrote, of Samsung’s tablet, “too closely copied a major competitor”.

Samsung wanted to present concrete proof via prototypes it developed before Apple’s release that Samsung independently developed the device before Apple. The judge found the evidence was brought up too late and refused to admit it. Nevertheless I can state with some confidence that Apple’s whole suit is baseless. Apple seems to have found a very friendly judge. I doubt a finding for Apple will survive appeal. Finding evidence late in the process is not a basis to exclude the evidence if it is pivotal. That is a basis to extend the pre-trial period. Both Apple and Samsung presented this evidence publicly but now Apple is asking punishment for Samsung over it. Where is the justice when Apple can lie in public but Samsung is not allowed a defence?