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How Apple v. Samsung Was Explained To the Jury

jfruh writes "10 jurors have been sworn in for the Apple v. Samsung case, which is at the heart of the ongoing patent disputes over the companies' smartphones. While most Slashdot readers are familiar with many of the facts of the case and the law, the jury is at least in theory supposed to be something of a blank slate. Thus, it's interesting to see the detailed instructions Judge Lucy Koh gave to the jury, covering everything from the differences between utility and design patents to how to measure the credibility of witnesses."

330 comments

  1. Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, I have one first thing I want you to consider. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Samsung. Samsung is a electronics maker from the country Japan. But Samsung markets in the country America. Now think about it; that does not make sense!

    Why would Samsung, a Japanese electronics manufacturer, want to market to the United States, with a bunch of 2-foot-tall phones? That does not make sense! But more important, you have to ask yourself: What does this have to do with this case? Nothing. Ladies and gentlemen, it has nothing to do with this case! It does not make sense! Look at me. I'm a lawyer defending a major computer company, and I'm talkin' about Samsung! Does that make sense? Ladies and gentlemen, I am not making any sense! None of this makes sense! And so you have to remember, when you're in that jury room deliberatin' and conjugatin' the Emancipation Proclamation, does it make sense? No! Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, it does not make sense! If Samsung lives in Japan, you must convict!

    1. Re:Here's how it was explained by zaphod777 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Isn't Samsung from South Korea?

      --
      "Don't Panic!"
    2. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Samsung is Korean, not Japanese. Other than that, well, you've written yet another predictable Chewbacca defense imitation.

    3. Re:Here's how it was explained by bob+zee · · Score: 0

      I thought the jury was supposed to listen to the arguments from both sides to determine the outcome of the case. Why is this judge explaining anything?

    4. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      That does not make sense!

    5. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Do you know anything at all about how trials work?

    6. Re:Here's how it was explained by Grygus · · Score: 5, Informative

      Listening to an argument is meaningless when you do not understand the concepts involved. All the judge did was provide a brief glossary for pertinent terms, like "design patent" and "ornamental design." There is nothing underhanded going on.

    7. Re:Here's how it was explained by russotto · · Score: 3, Funny

      Isn't Samsung from South Korea?

      Forget it, he's on a roll.

    8. Re:Here's how it was explained by bob+zee · · Score: 0

      I guess not. thank you for clearing it up for me.

    9. Re:Here's how it was explained by bob+zee · · Score: 0

      ok, thank you. that makes perfect sense.

    10. Re:Here's how it was explained by JustOK · · Score: 1

      So that's how those footprints got on there.

      --
      rewriting history since 2109
    11. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Isn't Samsung from South Korea?

       
      To that clueless group of jurors, I do not think they have enough braincell to understand the difference between South Korea and Japan
       

    12. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mind=Blown, am I right?

    13. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      Think of it this way - instead of Umpire's at a baseball game calling balls/strikes/outs MLB
      decides it would be better for unpartial outsiders to come in and call the game. When they arrive
      they don't know the rules - so on coach argues safe and the other coach argues out but you
      didn't know what safe or out even meant and what actions lead to them it would be hard for
      you to make an informed decision - so before hearing the arguments from opposing coaches
      who (since they are opposing) will be syaing the exact opposite of each other, the league has
      an expert explain all the rules of the game to you and tells you what information to use when
      making your decision (i.e. what you saw/heard, video replay, etc.) and what *not* to consider
      (how loud a coach yells, how much spit is drooling don his chin, etc.)

    14. Re:Here's how it was explained by mosb1000 · · Score: 0

      Therein lies the problem. To some extant, all definitions are subjective, and in giving this instruction the judge undoubtedly biased toward his own views. It would be better if the jury were already knowledgable about such things.

    15. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Korean, I think. But IMNSHO it is all utter crap. Lawyers ought not to be parcelling money out to rich people (and funnelling a good deal into their own wheelbarrows), who make the money off ideas that anyone, that you or I would come up with. Stinks to high heaven. Ought to be a law against the laws.

    16. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, it's *NOT* a problem. "to some extant" everything is subjective, so the fuck what?
      The subjective part is what what the jury is deciding on, the instructions are the rules
      they are supposed to use to make the decisions. The judge is not instructing them on
      which witness is or is not credible, he is telling them the law and rules about things so
      they can make the decision. IF I tell you the a pitch is a strike if it crosses any part of
      home plate while being between the knees and shoulders of the batter I am NOT imposing
      my views on yopu calling any particular pitch, just what the rulebook says - it is still your
      call to decide on each pitch if you think it is a strike or whether it was too high, too low
      inside or outside.

    17. Re:Here's how it was explained by jd · · Score: 1

      Hey! I didn't know Ben Elton had a Slashdot account! Why are you posting anonymously?

      --
      It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
    18. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Slashdot creates poor-quality ripoff jokes much like Samsung creates ripoff phones.

      Can't wait until Samsung raises the Asperger Defense like Hans Reiser.

    19. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you read the links from TFM, (eg. what is and is not evidence), you'll see that part of a judge's job is to make clear to the jury the rules of the game (especially what specifically needs to be proved to allow them to reach a certain conclusion) before the attorneys slog it out in the ring. In the common law world this is always happens where a jury acts as the tribunal of fact. In fact many appeals turn on the adequacy of a judge's jury instructions. In other words the judge has to be extremely careful and accurate in their instructions to a jury, lest an ambiguous phrase here or there results in a mistrial.

    20. Re:Here's how it was explained by detritus. · · Score: 1

      Ladies and gentlemen, this is an Apple, and this is an Orange. They are both fruit. That does not make sense. Therefore, you must acquit!

    21. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >There is nothing underhanded going on.

      Agreed. Using Hanlon's Razor, Koh is less likely to be a fangirl, and moreso incompetent by supporting such an obvious claim by Apple that other judges would have thrown out without a second thought.

    22. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Chewbacca doesn't live on Endor either...

    23. Re:Here's how it was explained by noh8rz6 · · Score: 0

      So it is better if the jury themselves has all sorts of biases and no clear idea about how the law works, like you? Maybe twelve angry men shouting ROUNDED RECTANGLES!

      --
      Don't be a h8r.
    24. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If only he was on a pork bun.

    25. Re:Here's how it was explained by Deorus · · Score: 1

      Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, I have one first thing I want you to consider. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Samsung. Samsung is a electronics maker from the country Japan. But Samsung markets in the country America. Now think about it; that does not make sense!

      Both Samsung and Lucy Koh (the judge) are Korean, and after reading the article I have full trust in her competence.

    26. Re:Here's how it was explained by rastos1 · · Score: 1

      ... when you do not understand the concepts involved.

      In most of the jobs you have to be qualified for the job. Not in a jury apparently.

    27. Re:Here's how it was explained by spacepimp · · Score: 1

      Too Soon.

    28. Re:Here's how it was explained by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 2

      Isn't that what jury selection is for? To make sure anyone that even smells of having a clue doesn't actually make it on the jury?

      --

      People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
    29. Re:Here's how it was explained by BlackSnake112 · · Score: 1

      Jury of one's peers. Shouldn't the jury be other electronics companies? After all Companies are people too now? Get the CEO's or other high level people from other electronics companies to be on the jury.

      The same can be said for actual people. When a millionaire or billionaire is on trial should their peers also be millionaires or billionaires? Do you think someone making $30,000 a year can be a peer of someone making $3,000,000 or $3,000,000,000 a year? I think they only look at age as the peer thing. It should be more.

    30. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They're from North Korea, because they're communists!

    31. Re:Here's how it was explained by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

      How do you get "it is better if the jury themselves has all sorts of biases and no clear idea about how the law works" from "It would be better if the jury were already knowledgable about such things?" Isn't that exactly the opposite?

    32. Re:Here's how it was explained by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

      Oh, is today opposite day? My bad.

    33. Re:Here's how it was explained by noh8rz6 · · Score: 0

      proof: /. is filled with people who think they are "knowledgeable" when in fact they are just fanboi h8rz. they think they are "enlightened" and "unbiased" and could right all of the wrongs in the patent system, when in fact they just want to force others to use their preferred companies. Before you reply "I know you are but what am I?" i'm not saying that I would be any better. I'm saying that the current situation of blank slate juries is the way to go.

      --
      Don't be a h8r.
    34. Re:Here's how it was explained by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Im gosgog:
      I'm an American citizen, I live in the Philippines because I can't afford the U.S. anymore....WHY!! BECAUSE major part of the cost of living is a result of LAWYERS.. most of them like this one & the majority of Politicians....GREEDY IDIOTS. Case in point (my living was aviation)....Man in Kansas, owned a Beechcraft Bonanza, has a few DRINKS FOR LUNCH and takes his kids for a flight. CRASHES, all Killed. The wife sues BEECHCRAFT, MCAULEY (propellers) Goodyear (tires) KING (radios). All of which were functioning properly....SHE WINS....why?? LAWYERS LIKE THIS ASSHOLE! aS A RESULT of THIS KIND OF LAW SUIT. General Aviation lost a lot of good manufacturers and PRICES WENT THROUGH THE ROOF. Own a swimming Pool? Some kid who is trespassing gets in your Pool & DROWNS... who LOSES...YOU DO! You left your KEYS IN YOUR CAR, some kid STEALS IT & WRECKS...your FAULT YOU TURNED A KID BAD....BULLSHIT....that's LAWYERS LIKE DUMBASS here.

  2. Oracle vs Google by zaphod777 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I am hopping that Apple gets smacked own as hard as Oracle did in the Oracle vs Google case. A flat rectangle with a touch screen is not a patentable design. Plus Samsung had many similar prototypes in the works before the iPhone even debuted.

    --
    "Don't Panic!"
    1. Re:Oracle vs Google by imamac · · Score: 1

      Apple has shown prototypes that predate Samsung's. But, regardless, I agree with you--Apple needs to get smacked down a bit on this one.

    2. Re:Oracle vs Google by bhagwad · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Agreed. To my mind, this trial should NOT be about whether Samsung "copied" Apple designs. It's about all of Apple's smartphone "design patents" being invalidated and them being sanctioned for misusing the judicial process by applying for frivolous patents. Then they should also pay Samsung's legal fees and a public apology for being dickheads.

    3. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think the patent office needs to be smacked down a bit, too. This entire class of patents is ridiculous. You shouldn't able to patent a shape unless that shape advances science and the useful arts. Create a 4th dimensional Hypercube? Fine, that deserves a patent. Create a rectangle made of glass an, metal and plastic? Hell no!

    4. Re:Oracle vs Google by zaphod777 · · Score: 1

      I wish I had some mod points to give you.

      --
      "Don't Panic!"
    5. Re:Oracle vs Google by bob+zee · · Score: 0

      citation needed

    6. Re:Oracle vs Google by Adrian+Lopez · · Score: 5, Interesting

      "A flat rectangle with a touch screen is not a patentable design."

      I shudder to think what, say, the musical instrument market would look like today if the designs of cellos, violins, classical guitars, grand pianos, and countless other instruments with roughly equivalent shapes were similarly protected.

      --
      "In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
    7. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It doesn't matter who wins as we lose either way. Patents are the real problem.

      At any rate, I will never own a product from either of these two companies every again. They both act like children.

    8. Re:Oracle vs Google by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't see her doing that. She seems to be explaining the boundaries of the case that she and the lawyers have "agreed" to, and what the jury needs to decide on. I didn't notice her telling them how to think.

      The fact is the case is so broad and there are so many nits to pick, I'd be surprised if the jury could do anything rational with it.

    9. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      well see that is where you show how little you understand. That cello is protect the first 20 years its patented...then after that it is fair game. Just like the iphone/ipad. Im sorry that cellos in 20 years will still be marketable. Same here. In what 15 more years people can copy the design on the iphone. See your problem is you want it treated different because it is a phone instead of a cello...but in legal eyes they are all the same.

      My moneys on Apple. They may not win every battle but they will win the war.

      And if you dont think its a war.....you sont understand a lot.

    10. Re:Oracle vs Google by thephydes · · Score: 1

      Agree. For one, a round cornered rectangle (with a rounded back and a touch screen as well) is exactly the shape of my palm z22 which if I recall correctly was from around 2005. Actually a round cornered rectangle with flat sides is exactly the profile of an old HDD sitting on my desk. Frankly design patents are a crock as are software patents.

    11. Re:Oracle vs Google by bws111 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, because clearly those instruments were all invented within the last 20 years, or even within 20 years of each other.

    12. Re:Oracle vs Google by zaphod777 · · Score: 1

      I don't really see how Samsung had any choice in the matter. Should they wait until Apple stops them from selling any products? Google is the only one that has not really played a large role directly in all of the litigation. I can also say that it is going to get worse before it gets better since the US Patent Office has just given Apple a bunch of absurd software patents for things that Android and other phone manufactures have been using for years.

      --
      "Don't Panic!"
    13. Re:Oracle vs Google by LordLucless · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Design patents serve a somewhat useful purpose, although I think things like trademark and trade dress serve the purpose better. Just like utility patents, the problem isn't necessarily that they exist, but that USPTO is handing them out like candy. A deliberately minimalistic design with no distinguishing features other than its minimalism shouldn't qualify for a design patent, just as an extremely obvious patent that is just performing an existing operation on a new class of device shouldn't qualify for a utility patent.

      --
      Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
    14. Re:Oracle vs Google by docmordin · · Score: 4, Informative

      A flat rectangle with a touch screen is not a patentable design.

      This is an erroneous claim. To see why, it is instructive to see what the US Patent Office has to say about design patents:

      "A design consists of the visual ornamental characteristics embodied in, or applied to, an article of manufacture. Since a design is manifested in appearance, the subject matter of a design patent application may relate to the configuration or shape of an article, to the surface ornamentation applied to an article, or to the combination of configuration and surface ornamentation. A design for surface ornamentation is inseparable from the article to which it is applied and cannot exist alone. It must be a definite pattern of surface ornamentation, applied to an article of manufacture.

      The Patent Law provides for the granting of design patents to any person who has invented any new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. A design patent protects only the appearance of the article and not its structural or utilitarian features. The principal statutes (United States Code) governing design patents are:

      35 USC 171: Whoever invents any new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title. The provisions of this title relating to patents for inventions shall apply to patents for designs, except as otherwise provided.

      [...]

      35 USC 102: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless: (a) the invention was known or used by others in this country, or patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country, before the invention thereof by the applicant for patent, or (b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of the application for patent in the United States, or (c) he has abandoned the invention, or (d) the invention was first patented or caused to be patented, or was the subject of an inventor’s certificate, by the applicant or his legal representatives or assigns in a foreign country prior to the date of the application for patent in this country on an application for patent or inventor’s certificate filed more than twelve months before the filing of the application in the United States, or (e) the invention was described in (1) an application for patent, published under section 122 (b), by another filed in the United States before the invention by the applicant for patent or (2) a patent granted on an application for patent by another filed in the United States before the invention by the applicant for patent, except that an international application filed under the treaty defined in section 351 (a) shall have the effects for the purposes of this subsection of an application filed in the United States only if the international application designated the United States and was published under Article 21(2) of such treaty in the English language; or (f) he did not himself invent the subject matter sought to be patented, or (g) (1) during the course of an interference conducted under section 135 orsection 291, another inventor involved therein establishes, to the extent permitted in section 104, that before such person’s invention thereof the invention was made by such other inventor and not abandoned, suppressed, or concealed, or (2) before such person’s invention thereof, the invention was made in this country by another inventor who had not abandoned, suppressed, or concealed it. In determining priority of invention under this subsection, there shall be considered not only the respective dates of conception and reduction to practice of the invention, but also the reasonable diligence of one who was first to conceive and last to reduce to practice, from a time prior to conception by the other.

      35 USC 103: (a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identic

    15. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For someone who seems rather biased with all your comments, you seem rather clueless too.

    16. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ornamental design patent for a cello.

      http://www.patents.com/us-d395912.html

      US Patents on the electric violin seem to have started in 1932. And expired a long time ago.
      http://www.digitalviolin.com/Patents.html
      http://www.google.com/patents?id=cc1DAAAAEBAJ&hl=en&dq=1861717

    17. Re:Oracle vs Google by Swampash · · Score: 5, Informative

      The Fender Stratocaster was released in 1954 and totally changed the then-new electric guitar market. You can look at well-known electric guitar designs like the Telecaster and the Les Paul and just SEE that they were created before the Stratocaster was released. And you can look at a metric fucktonne of electric guitar designs and just SEE that they were created AFTER the Stratocaster was released. There's a clear point at which the "before Strat" electric guitar industry became the "after Strat" electric guitar industry. The shape of the Fender Stratocaster - influenced by pre-existing stringed instruments like the cello, but still new and unlike any electric guitar made before - became what electric guitars look like.

      Fender did not pursue the Strat-clone manufacturers in court; and then after attempting to trademark the iconic Statocaster contours decades later, a court ruled in 2009 that "the body shapes were generic and that consumers do not solely associate these shapes with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation". The ruling went so far as to say "in the case of the [Stratocaster] body outline, this configuration is so common that it is depicted as a generic electric guitar in a dictionary." (bolds mine)

      Apple ain't making that mistake.

    18. Re:Oracle vs Google by cyfer2000 · · Score: 1
      --
      There is a spark in every single flame bait point.
    19. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yeah, because clearly those instruments were all invented within the last 20 years, or even within 20 years of each other.

      Yeah, because clearly there was only ever one builder of violins, classical guitars, pianos, etc.

      You stated the whole point yourself: "patent's didn't exist more than 20 years ago" Yet, still there were countless builder's of violin's, cellos, grand piano's, etc which all look virtually the same.

      If apple want's to compete, compete on quality. Don't compete on "rectangularness" or "blackness" cause that's just stupid.

    20. Re:Oracle vs Google by berashith · · Score: 1

      yes, but Rothko got away with calling deliberately minimalist rectangles art. He got famous for it, and maybe even rich.

    21. Re:Oracle vs Google by rtb61 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Those appearance patents are only meant to prevent another companies product being sold in the same guise as the patent holder's product. The point of protection being if people were buying the Samsung product in the mistaken belief it was an iPhone. That should be the only thing viewed by the judge. If people are buying the Samsung product based upon preferring the software Android, then that should be the end of it, they are not confusing the offerings, this is clearly a gross abuse of the intent of design patents.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    22. Re:Oracle vs Google by wierd_w · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The clear issue that stands out there, is that apple's design is neither new, nor original, and therefor not applicable for patent protection.

      As others have pointed out, the combination of "rectangular, thin, with rounded corners and a small bezel border" is not new, and existed in aesthetic designs of personal devices prior to apple's adoption of the aesthetic feature set.

      Apple is more claiming that it has taken the old and made it its own, which is now an apple signature appearance-- sure, they can do that, but that falls under trade dress and trade mark, not patent. Similarly to marvel owning red and blue packaging with a spiderweb motif for spiderman products. Making a generic product called "arachnaboy" and packaging it in red and blue blister packs with spiderweb motifs is a trade dress violation. Not a patent violation.

      Apple should not have been granted this patent, due to prior art for other personal electronic devices. Claiming "but never a phone or tablet computer!" Does not magically make the aesthetic design novel, nor new.

      I hope apple gets their precious little patent used as toilet paper, because in its current form it is completely without value.

    23. Re:Oracle vs Google by shentino · · Score: 1

      We already have a thing called "trade dress" to protect distinctiveness.

    24. Re:Oracle vs Google by bws111 · · Score: 1

      I did not say anything as stupid as patents didn't exist 20 years ago - they have existed for hundreds of years. However, anything patented more than 20 years ago would not have patent protection any longer, as patents only last 20 years. So if the inventor of the cello patented the shape, 20 years later all of the other makers of cellos (and those other instruments) could have copied it, legally. So the OPs position that "he shudders to think what the modern musical instrument market would look like" is completely stupid - it would look exactly like it does today.

      Your statement about "countless builders .. virtually the same even in the absence of patents" is really stupid. Patents aren't used to make sure everyone makes the SAME thing, they are used to ensure people make DIFFERENT things.

    25. Re:Oracle vs Google by dbcad7 · · Score: 1

      And I think your going to lose that money.. It's too bad, because if you didn't gamble like that, you might be able to afford a Slashdot ID

      --
      waiting for ad.doubleclick.net
    26. Re:Oracle vs Google by elashish14 · · Score: 1

      I hope so as well, as much as anyone else. Unfortunately, I don't think we're going to be as lucky as we were in the Oracle case. Judge Alsup really was one of a kind, even going out of his way to school himself on Java in order to better understand the case. Judge Koh doesn't seem particularly enlightened or intelligent, particularly since she already issued an injunction on Apple's patents, which are trivial to say the least.

      But let's hope for the best. The case is still going to be decided by a jury, so hopefully they'll make the right decision. Apple's campaign against competition needs to be quashed.

      --
      I have left slashdot and am now on Soylent News. FUCK YOU DICE.
    27. Re:Oracle vs Google by santax · · Score: 3, Informative

      Just don't copy the shape of the neck-head. That will get you in trouble.

    28. Re:Oracle vs Google by dreamchaser · · Score: 1

      probably not going to happen with this judge telling the jurors how to think.

      You must have read a different set of instructions than I did, or aren't familiar at all with jury instructions. The judge did no such thing. As much as I'd love to see Apple get smacked down in this silly and wasteful suit, one of the duties of a judge is to give said instructions explaining how the law treats terms used and what they are supposed to be deciding on. Nowhere did it say how they should decide.

    29. Re:Oracle vs Google by MrDoh! · · Score: 2

      Then you have; https://plus.google.com/u/0/100241261662852079434/posts/12kf2e2BGjn that's 2004 I believe (probably filmed earlier than shown on tv of course) Then before that in 2003; https://plus.google.com/u/0/100241261662852079434/posts/En6cqNeQqDJ There's stuff before that? Probably.

      --
      Waiting for an amusing sig.
    30. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >>A flat rectangle with a touch screen is not a patentable design.
      >This is an erroneous claim

      I truly hope you don't believe what you're saying. Apple got to where they were by standing on the shoulders of giants - as we ALL do. Being first does not make you the only person who has the right to something so generic as a shape, of which Samsung also appears to have discovered.

      After your well thought out and researched response, I would be very disappointed to think you support this patent madness - allowing the obvious and most basic of elements to be patented. The damage to society (not Apple) is incalculable when companies behave irresponsibly and do their best to stifle competition. This is the exact opposite of what patents were created for.

    31. Re:Oracle vs Google by vux984 · · Score: 2

      Apple ain't making that mistake.

      Yes, in this case, the form factor being fought over is called a "tablet" a form so established, we can find examples of 'rounded rectangle tablets for displaying content' that date back to when humans discovered you could bake clay.

      Its not a new design.

    32. Re:Oracle vs Google by Local+ID10T · · Score: 1

      probably not going to happen with this judge telling the jurors how to think.

      "Think Different" ?

      --
      "You want to know how to help your kids? Leave them the fuck alone." -George Carlin
    33. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apparently they are making said mistake, because they didn't trademark their special rectangle; they patented said rectangle instead.

    34. Re:Oracle vs Google by foofish · · Score: 1

      That might get in the way of the patent office's apparent aim of letting people patent absolutely anything though...

    35. Re:Oracle vs Google by Adrian+Lopez · · Score: 1

      "Apple ain't making that mistake."

      Which is precisely the problem. If musical instruments were treated the way Apple wants its phones and tablets to be treated, countless makers of now standard instrument shapes would have been forbidden from building such instruments under patent and trademark law. There would be no cellos, violins, oboes or classical guitars as long as trademark rights in their designs persisted.

      --
      "In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
    36. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      except that your witty riposte would then be "oh your slashdot id is too high therefore your argument is invalid", so for all the good a slashdot id would do, the previous AC might as well just keep on gambling instead

    37. Re:Oracle vs Google by Adrian+Lopez · · Score: 1

      guitars?

      I said classical guitars. If any two guitar designs don't look nearly identical, you can be sure that one of them (at the very least) is not the design for a classical guitar.

      --
      "In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
    38. Re:Oracle vs Google by zaphod777 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But did he try and sue and try to prevent anyone else from painting rectangles?

      --
      "Don't Panic!"
    39. Re:Oracle vs Google by Adrian+Lopez · · Score: 2

      That cello is protect the first 20 years its patented...then after that it is fair game.

      Design patents don't preclude subsequent trade dress protection, so it wouldn't be "fair game" unless the owner of the design patent decided to forgo trademark protection or it were somehow ruled not distinctive after so many years of patent-enforced exclusivity.

      --
      "In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
    40. Re:Oracle vs Google by Adrian+Lopez · · Score: 1

      "Yeah, because clearly those instruments were all invented within the last 20 years, or even within 20 years of each other."

      Don't forget about trade dress. Trademarks can last indefinitely.

      --
      "In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
    41. Re:Oracle vs Google by Swampash · · Score: 1

      countless makers of now standard instrument shapes would have been forbidden from building such instruments unless they simply obtained permission to do so

      FTFY

    42. Re:Oracle vs Google by jargonburn · · Score: 1

      A flat rectangle with a touch screen

      Don't forget the rounded corners.

    43. Re:Oracle vs Google by jmerlin · · Score: 2

      I just put my iPhone 3Gs, an iPhone 4, and my Galaxy Nexus side by side by side. Anyone who doesn't clearly see the Nexus as completely different from either of the iPhones is a complete moron. They're nothing alike. This lawsuit is beyond stupid.

      Example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK7BiEUBtxw

      I say slap Apple with a multi-hundred million dollar fine for wasting taxpayer money and to keep them from being dickheads again and require them to put on their website "Samsung Android Phones Do Not Look Like iPhones" at least 10 billion times, and it should be hand-written, not computer generated, so everyone in the company has to write a few thousand lines.

    44. Re:Oracle vs Google by Adrian+Lopez · · Score: 1

      countless makers of now standard instrument shapes would have been forbidden from building such instruments unless they simply obtained permission to do so

      FTFY

      Just like Samsung could make perfect replicas of iPhones were Apple to give them permission to do so. Apple, of course, would never allow it. Knowing they could adds nothing of value to this discussion.

      --
      "In prison you just have to shut your eyes and take it. Here you have to shut your eyes and give it."
    45. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No if people were buying a Samsung product thinking it was an iPhone that's an issue for a trademark. Trademarks are to prevent consumer confusion, patents are to protect a novel and useful invention.

    46. Re:Oracle vs Google by docmordin · · Score: 3, Informative

      (Submitting this comment again, since it apparently didn't get accepted the first time)

      As I mentioned above, according to the US Patent Office, Apple's design met their criteria to merit the awarding of a patent. Whether or not the jury, and likely the appeal courts, agree, is still debatable.

      To elaborate a bit on this, and also better refine by above post, Apple's design patents do not cover all rectangular-shaped electronic devices with rounded corners. Apple's design patents, e.g., for the iPad (D504,889, and others), are rather precise, and, ultimately, limited: they cover an article with a certain kind of case design, a specific screen placement and size ratio with respect to the body, and input port/button location. Provided that other companies/individuals do not, practically, reuse the same design elements, i.e., an article doesn't have buttons in the same locations, similar stylizations in the same locations, the same kind of package design, etc., the US Patent Office is willing to grant design patents.

      Now, the court's view is mostly aligned with the US Patent Office's on what constitutes a valid design, i.e., the design threshold needed to afford protection via a patent. To begin, it is helpful to at least outline some preliminary case law about design patents:

      "A design patent protects the nonfunctional aspects of an ornamental design as shown in the patent." (Elmer v. ICC Fabricating, Inc., 67 F.3d 1571, 1577 (Fed. Cir. 1995) (citing Keystone Retaining Wall Sys., Inc. v. Westrock, Inc., 997 F.2d 1444, 1450 (Fed. Cir. 1993))) The chief limitation on the patentability of designs is that they must be primarily ornamental in character. If the design is dictated by performance of the article, then it is judged to be functional and ineligible for design patent protection. (Best Lock Corp. v. Ilco Unican Corp., 94 F.3d 1563, 1566 (Fed. Cir. 1996))

      As for case law about design thresholds, I found it by looking through that concerning infringement (a design patent is infringed by the "unauthorized manufacture, use, or sale of the article embodying the patented design or any colorable imitation thereof." (Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. v. Hercules Tire & Rubber Co., 162 F.3d 1113, 1116-17 (Fed. Cir. 1998))):

      Similar to the infringement analysis of a utility patent, infringement of a design patent is evaluated in a two-step process. First, the court must construe the claims of the design patent to determine their meaning and scope. (OddzOn Prods., Inc. v. Just Toys, Inc., 122 F.3d 1396, 1404-05 (Fed. Cir. 1997)) Design patents typically are claimed as shown in drawings. Claim construction by a court is adapted accordingly. Goodyear, 162 F.3d at 1116. The scope of the claim of a patented design “encompasses ‘its visual appearance as a whole,’ and in particular ‘the visual impression it creates.’” (Contessa Food Prods., Inc. v. Conagra, Inc., 282 F.3d 1370, 1376 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (quoting Durling v. Spectrum Furniture Co., 101 F.3d 100, 104-05 (Fed. Cir. 1996)))

      Second, after construction of the patent’s claims, the court is to compare the construed claims to the accused design. Elmer, 67 F.3d at 1577. Infringement of a design patent occurs if "the designs have the same general visual appearance, such that it is likely that the purchaser [(or the ordinary observer)] would be deceived into confusing the design of the accused article with the patented design." (Goodyear, 162 F.3d at 1118) The patented and accused designs do not have to be identical in order for design patent infringement to be found. (Contessa, 282 F.3d at 1376) In determining infringement of a design patent, the court "is not limited to the ornamental features of a subset of the drawings, but instead must encompass the claimed ornamental features of all figures of a design patent." (Id. at 1379 (emphasis added))

      The comparison of the patented and accused designs involves two separate tests, both of which must be satisfied to find infringement: the "ordina

    47. Re:Oracle vs Google by bkk_diesel · · Score: 1

      You totally missed the point:
      There were functional electric guitars before the Strat was introduced, and there would have been fully functional electric guitars after the 1954 release of the Stratocaster. What would NOT have happened is that every guitar maker and his grandmother would not have made their guitars the same shape as (the suddenly cool) Stratocaster. This was a huge mistake on Fender's part and Apple is not taking any chances. Whether Apple is right or wrong about their claims, as well as whether or not they win their cases is somewhat irrelevant. If they fail to try to protect the look and feel of the products they manufacture then consumers will not associate that look and feel with a product of Apple.

    48. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Create a 4th dimensional Hypercube? Fine, that deserves a patent.

      Nope - that's a mathematical concept. Falls into the same class as trying to patent software algorithms - and in this case, one with lots of prior art.

    49. Re:Oracle vs Google by Swampash · · Score: 0

      countless makers of now standard instrument shapes would have been forbidden from building such instruments unless they simply obtained permission to do so

      Just like Samsung could make perfect replicas of iPhones were Apple to give them permission to do so. Apple, of course, would never allow it. Knowing they could adds nothing of value to this discussion.

      When, fuck I dunno, Warmoth Guitars decided it wanted to make guitar necks with the characteristic "Fender Stratocaster headstock design", it asked Fender for permission, Fender said "yeah OK, here are our terms, pay up and you're good". Warmoth said "OK" and now makes guitar necks with a genuine Fender Stratocaster headstock shape.

      If Fender had said "no" then Warmoth would have had to either (a) go ahead and do it anyway and risk getting taken to court, or (b) make necks with an obviously non-Fender headstock design.

      Similarly, if Samsung had wanted to legally make smartphones with the characteristic "Apple iPhone design", it could have asked Apple for a licence and then, if rejected, gone with (a) or (b). But it didn't even ask. It just went straight to (a), and it's now in court.

    50. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The clear issue that stands out there, is that apple's design is neither new, nor original, and therefor not applicable for patent protection.

      If that's true then why did all of Samsung's phone designs suddenly and radically change just after the announcement of the iPhone?

    51. Re:Oracle vs Google by docmordin · · Score: 2

      To understand how I reached that decision, beyond what I mentioned above, it is important to start with case law dating back to 1893, specifically Smith v. Whitman Saddle Co., 148 U.S. 674, respectively.

      The Whitman Saddle case involved a patent on a design for a saddle. During its ruling, the court emphasized the importance of “invention” to the patentability of a design; it stated, “Mere mechanical skill is insufficient. There must be something akin to genius, an effort of the brain as well as the hand. The adaptation of old devices or forms to new purposes, however convenient, useful, or beautiful they may be in their new role, is not invention.” (148 U.S. at 679) The Court then explained (id.):

      "The exercise of the inventive or originative faculty is required, and a person cannot be permitted to select an existing form, and simply put it to a new use, any more than he can be permitted to take a patent for the mere double use of a machine. If, however, the selection and adaptation of an existing form is more than the exercise of the imitative faculty, and the result is in effect a new creation, the design may be patentable."

      In the case before it, the court characterized the patented saddle design as a combination of elements from two saddle designs that were well known in the art. The court explained that the patented design consisted of a combination of the front half of the so-called Granger saddle and the back end of the so-called Jenifer saddle. The design differed from a simple combination of the two known saddles, according to the court, only in that the front end of the design had “a nearly perpendicular drop of some inches at the rear of the pommel,” unlike in the Granger saddle. (Id. at 680)

      Although the trial court, sitting in equity, concluded that the design was patentable, the Supreme Court disagreed. The court wrote, “Nothing more was done in this instance (except as hereafter noted) than to put the two halves of these saddles together in the exercise of the ordinary skill of workmen of the trade, and in the way and manner ordinarily done.” (148 U.S. at 681) The court noted that there was a difference between the pommel of the designed saddle and the pommel of the Granger saddle, and it added that the “shape of the front end being old, the sharp drop of the pommel at the rear seems to constitute what was new and to be material.” Id. at 682. That feature, however, was not present in the defendants’ saddle. The court then concluded with the following remarks (id.):

      "If, therefore, this drop were material to the design, and rendered it patentable as a complete and integral whole, there was no infringement. As before said, the design of the patent had two features of difference as compared with the Granger saddle, one the cantle, the other the drop; and unless there was infringement as to the latter there was none at all, since the saddle design of the patent does not otherwise differ from the old saddle with the old cantle added, an addition frequently made. Moreover, that difference was so marked that in our judgment the defendant’s saddle could not be mistaken for the saddle of the complainant."

      Since Whitman Saddle was an action in equity, the court did not distinguish sharply between its analysis of patentability and its discussion of infringement. Within the same passage, it moved from stating that it could not agree with the trial court that the design in issue was patentable to the conclusion that if the design were patentable because of the drop at the rear of the pommel, there was no infringement. The point the court was making was that, viewed in light of the similarities between the prior art and the patented design, the accused design did not contain the single feature that would have made it appear distinctively similar to the patented design rather than like the numerous prior art designs. For that reason, it held, the accused design did not infringe.

      Subsequent cases applied t

    52. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anubis+IV · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It came out a few days ago when a lot of the discovery material was unsealed that something like 25% of the returns to Best Buy for the Samsung products Apple is citing in this case as infringing were because the customer incorrectly thought they were purchasing an Apple product and returned it once they realized it wasn't.

      As you said, it's something that should be considered, and it sounds like it will be, since they have numbers on it.

    53. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There might be a turning point in guitars, however there isn't one in screen centric devices. There was stuff quite similar to the iPhone (or containing certain "unique" characteristics thereof) years before it was announced, and it got more and more similar to the iPhone as time progressed. No, none of it was ever exactly like it, but neither is any of the Galaxy's if you bother to look at the details. The before and after with the iPhone is not a question of new design, it was steadily progressing that way, it's a question of convergence and volume. The iPhone popularized one of the trends of the time, they did not create it. And make no mistake, their design patents are even more generic then the actual designs as they don't include any of the distinctive features (e.g. home button). Apple is wrong, they want their "unique" (as in, legally enforced) design to be the generic one.

    54. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Centered" is not a specific screen placement that merits protection. The ports are not even covered by the patent! You cite lots of crap but spew bullshit.

    55. Re:Oracle vs Google by wierd_w · · Score: 1

      What apple showed was that there was demand for that form factor. They did not invent that form factor.

      They did useful marketing research about their customers, and provided a more attractive offering that their research showed to be more desirable.

      They sold like hotcakes, because the devices did not clash with the furniture and look tacky.

      Samsung paid notice to this revelation: they were not properly servicing the demands of their customers. They then implemented their own version of that design class. Their tablets sold like hotcakes too.

      To simplify:

      Let's say that gamers like things that look black and sexy.

      All the computers on the market are marketed in drab 1970s wood tone. This decision is based on outdated trend data. There are other products on the market that are black and sexy. Toasters, blenders, television sets.... just not computers.

      They really want a computer that is black and sexy. They don't really like wood tone.

      Companies continue to sell wood tone computers, regardless of this fact, because they sell sufficiently well that investing in new customer satisfaction research is not justified.

      A new computer company tries the "repeatedly flopped" "portable computer" concept, but sells it in sexy black, after looking into what their customers really want.

      They sell like hotcakes.

      Computer makers stop selling woodtone boxes, and sell black and sexy.

      The now successful computer company who revolutionized the market did not invent anything new.

      They simply did proper marketing.

      The same is true of apple.

    56. Re:Oracle vs Google by Kharny · · Score: 2

      That just proves atleast 25% of best buy customers fail to read even the packaging.

      --
      Make a man a fire and he will be warm for a day, set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life
    57. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Everyone who thinks this lawsuit was between iPhone and _nexus_ is a complete moron.

    58. Re:Oracle vs Google by cynyr · · Score: 1

      Lets just all ignore the rectangular tablet device with rounded corners in "A Space Odyssey: 2001"

      --
      All of the above was encrypted with a Quad ROT-13 method. Unauthorized decryption is in violation of the DMCA.
    59. Re:Oracle vs Google by cynyr · · Score: 1

      isn't that what trademark and tradedress are for?

      --
      All of the above was encrypted with a Quad ROT-13 method. Unauthorized decryption is in violation of the DMCA.
    60. Re:Oracle vs Google by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      To elaborate a bit on this, and also better refine by above post, Apple's design patents do not cover all rectangular-shaped electronic devices with rounded corners. Apple's design patents, e.g., for the iPad (D504,889, and others), are rather precise, and, ultimately, limited: they cover an article with a certain kind of case design, a specific screen placement and size ratio with respect to the body, and input port/button location. Provided that other companies/individuals do not, practically, reuse the same design elements, i.e., an article doesn't have buttons in the same locations, similar stylizations in the same locations, the same kind of package design, etc., the US Patent Office is willing to grant design patents.

      Sure, we know that. The problem is other people had already made devices that looked very similar and features most, if not all, of those design elements. Apple's claim should have been invalidated by prior art and for not being at all novel.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    61. Re:Oracle vs Google by rat_herder · · Score: 1

      The first statement i agree with. Unfortunately it isn't anywhere near representing what they are actually disputing. The second statement is pure speculation and fairly obviously wrong. Do really think if Apple hadn't entered the phone market Samsung would have released something that changed the industry like the iPhone?

    62. Re:Oracle vs Google by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Bingo, they returned it, so no problem. They obviously failed to pay attention when purchasing.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    63. Re:Oracle vs Google by Grudge2012 · · Score: 0

      Those appearance patents are only meant to prevent another companies product being sold in the same guise as the patent holder's product. The point of protection being if people were buying the Samsung product in the mistaken belief it was an iPhone. That should be the only thing viewed by the judge

      Samsung was told by Best Buy that Samsung tablets were being returned because customers thought they were getting iPads. Case closed, Samsung is guilty, we can all go home now. All but Samsung, they go to jail.

    64. Re:Oracle vs Google by shentino · · Score: 2

      The problem is that the understaffed USPTO (gee, I wonder why...couldn't be patent lawyers filing a shitstorm of patents) can't do much but rubber stamp things and let the courts sort it out.

      The court however considers that the USPTO's judgement commands deference.

    65. Re:Oracle vs Google by Dragonslicer · · Score: 1

      You shouldn't able to patent a shape unless that shape advances science and the useful arts.

      Despite the name, design patents aren't really what most of us around here would consider "patents". It helps to think of design patents as a subclass of trademark instead of a subclass of patent.

    66. Re:Oracle vs Google by rwise2112 · · Score: 1

      Well, here's an example showing it does happen:
      Gibson vs. PRS

      --

      "For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert"
    67. Re:Oracle vs Google by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 1

      I couldn't help but think of Ibanez when reading your post. :)

      It's a funny thing that the whole "lawsuit era" of Japanese manufacturers copying US instrument designs is an urban myth.

      --

      People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
    68. Re:Oracle vs Google by Rogerborg · · Score: 1

      Plus Samsung had many similar prototypes in the works before the iPhone even debuted

      Judge Affirmative Action there just denied Samsung the opportunity to show those prototypes to the jury though, so that's not a factor. Then they went and released that info - you know, fact - to the press. Let the shitstorm commence.

      --
      If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
    69. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, you didn't get the original post's point, stupid.

    70. Re:Oracle vs Google by Kielistic · · Score: 1

      They didn't? Samsung makes dozens of different models of cell phones. Ranging from candybar, flip-phones, blackberry style front keyboard, sliders. It just so happens that their lineup that competes with the iphone is gasp the same form factor as the iphone.

    71. Re:Oracle vs Google by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      it's not patentable because there's prior art, both conceptual and actual. the conceptual designs date back at least 50 years.

      that's the way it should be anyway. the way the system works is that companies like apple throw all sort of ridiculous patens at the patent office, which accepts them because they don't have the resources to do otherwise. now it's a matter for the courts, where decisions are bought and sold by powerful companies.

    72. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anubis+IV · · Score: 0

      Quite true, but brand identity isn't just the name of the company written on the side of a box. It goes well beyond that, and it's protected by trademarks, trade dress, and design patents. If Pepsi made a glass bottle in the same shape as the iconic Coca-Cola bottle, I doubt you would be arguing that it's just a matter of customers failing "to read even the packaging" if you were being intellectually honest with yourself. Whether that's applicable here is another question, since there remains the issue of whether or not Apple is entitled to the same level of protection that something like the Coca-Cola bottle is, but your general dismissal on the basis that the customers failed to read is without merit.

      That said, I'm not suggesting Apple is right in pursuing this, but what I am suggesting is that customers were indeed getting confused because of the similarities, and it was happening in large quantities.

    73. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OK, Mr. Read Every EULA He's Ever Clicked "Agree" To!

    74. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or, competitors could come up with their own, distinct, flavor of new hotness...

      because if you compare Samsung phones pre-2007, and samsung phones post-iPhone-intro, ....

      it's kind of glaringly obvious that their whole design ethos immediately went Full Xerox.

    75. Re:Oracle vs Google by docmordin · · Score: 1

      Sure, we know that. The problem is other people had already made devices that looked very similar and features most, if not all, of those design elements. Apple's claim should have been invalidated by prior art and for not being at all novel.

      Then let me ask you this question: based upon the design patents by M. Kurihara (D291,442, Sept. 1984), M. Hara, et al. (D294,831, Aug. 1985), Y. Sugano (D299,031, Jun. 1986), C. T. Yu (D306,285, Dec. 1987), H. Shiozawa, et al. (D303,523, Nov. 1987), Y. Ooshima, et al. (D307,581, Feb. 1988), A. Tsukada, et al. (D310,213, Nov. 1988), K. Mizusugi, et al. (D309,603, Feb. 1989), K. Mizusugi, et al. (D330,016, Apr. 1991), K. Mizusugi, et al. (D344,496, Dec. 1991), K. Mizusugi (D357,674, Feb. 1994), H. Tamaki (D384,043, Jun. 1996), M. Kawa (D385,856, Oct. 1996), S. Mizuno (D405,434, Dec. 1997), S.-H. Han (D396,703, Aug. 1997), M. Kawa and K. Koyama (D413,107, Nov. 1998), C.-C. Lee, et al. (D408,798, Apr. 1998), and S. Mizuno (D431,821, Dec. 1999), let alone hundreds of others, do you believe that all current laptop design patents should be invalidated? After all, most, if not all laptops, share the same fundamental features outlined in those documents: a two-part hinged body, one which houses a screen and another for a keyboard and/or trackpad, etc.

      Really, when you get down to it, design patents are notoriously difficult to deal with during the review phase, which is why it is usually up to the courts to settle matters.

      To elaborate, for an examiner to properly reject a claimed design under 35 U.S.C. 171 on the basis of a lack of ornamentality, he or she must make a prima facie showing that the claimed design lacks ornamentality and provide a sufficient evidentiary basis for factual assumptions relied upon in such showing. (The court in In re Oetiker, 977 F.2d 1443, 1445, 24 USPQ2d 1443, 1444 (Fed. Cir.1992), stated that "the examiner bears the initial burden, on review of the prior art or on any other ground, of presenting a prima facie case of unpatentability.")

      The proper evidentiary basis for a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 171 that a claim is lacking in ornamentality is an evaluation of the appearance of the design itself. The examiner’s knowledge of the art, a reply to a letter of inquiry, a brochure emphasizing the functional/mechanical features of the design, the specification of an analogous utility patent (the applicant’s or another inventor), or information provided in the specification may be used to supplement the analysis of the design. If a design is embodied in a specific mechanical article, the analysis that the design lacks ornamentality because its appearance is dictated by functional requirements should be supported by reference to utility patents or some other source of information about the function of the design. If the design is embodied in an article that has a more general use, such as a clip, the analysis and explanation as to why the design lacks ornamentality should be detailed and specific. The examiner’s contention that the specific appearance of the claimed design lacks ornamentality may be supported by the holding of the court in In re Carletti et al., 328 F.2d 1020, 140 USPQ 653 (CCPA 1964), that a design to be patentable must be "created for the purpose of ornamenting" the article in which it is embodied. The presence or lack of ornamentality must be made on a case by case basis.

      Examples of proper evidentiary basis for a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 171 that a claim is lacking in ornamentality would be: (a) common knowledge in the art; (b) the appearance of the design itself; (c) the specification of a related utility patent; or (d) information provided in the specification. Moreover, a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 171 for lack of ornamentality must be supported by evidence and rejections should not be made in the absence of such evidence.

      Rejections under 35 U.S.C. 171 for lack of ornamentality based on a proper prima facie showing fall into two categories: (a) a design visibl

    76. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the patent office needs to be smacked down a bit, too. This entire class of patents is ridiculous. You shouldn't able to patent a shape unless that shape advances science and the useful arts. Create a 4th dimensional Hypercube? Fine, that deserves a patent. Create a rectangle made of glass an, metal and plastic? Hell no!

      This is the same argument that music pirates used before being smacked down for copyright infringement. Good luck with that.

    77. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A flat rectangles is not what the court is seeing it is what Samsung's professional liar said. You are also wrong about the prototypes. Basically you repeated Samsungs lies and for that get a score of insightful on Slashdot.

    78. Re:Oracle vs Google by milkmage · · Score: 1

      only Ford can make something with 4 wheels and a body (a form so established) - but we know that's not true, because we have thousands of car models... but you can differentiate a Honda from a BMW from a Hyunday at a distance...

      whereas

      http://computersight.com/computers/samsungs-lawyers-can-not-tell-an-ipad-a-galaxy-tab-10-1/

      Sammy knows they fucked up.
      http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/05/04/the-samsung-galaxy-s-iii-the-first-smartphone-designed-entirely-by-lawyers/

      it's not "tablet" it's ALL OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER
      a rectangular product shape with all four corners uniformly rounded;
      the front surface of the product dominated by a screen surface with black borders;
      as to the iPhone and iPod touch products, substantial black borders above and below the screen having roughly equal width and narrower black borders on either side of the screen having roughly equal width;
      as to the iPad product, substantial black borders on all sides being roughly equal in width;
      a metallic surround framing the perimeter of the top surface;
      a display of a grid of colorful square icons with uniformly rounded corners; and
      a bottom row of square icons (the "Springboard") set off from the other icons and that do not change as the other pages of the user interface are viewed.

    79. Re:Oracle vs Google by vux984 · · Score: 1

      only Ford can make something with 4 wheels and a body (a form so established) - but we know that's not true, because we have thousands of car models... but you can differentiate a Honda from a BMW from a Hyunday at a distance...

      Now try differentiating LCD monitors or big screen TVs. Sure the ones with some flair stand apart, but the minimalist ones? Good luck...

      all black - check
      rectangular - check
      aspect ratio -- same
      rounded corners - check
      small black bezel - same
      power LED - on bottom bezel check
      small row black button controlls on bottom bezel check
      matte screen

      lets see... I have an HP, a Dell, and a Viewsonic and I'd have to look for the logo to tell them apart. Do you think a lawyer could tell them apart from accross a room? I don't.

    80. Re:Oracle vs Google by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      The customers would have kept them if the could not have told the difference, 'CASE CLOSED'.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    81. Re:Oracle vs Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The customers would have kept them if the could not have told the difference, 'CASE CLOSED'.

      They asked the Apple genius at the bus stop why their iPad was such a piece of crap - CASE CLOSED.

  3. Re:DID YOU KNOW VH-1 WAS THE FIRST TO LOGO 24/7 ?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I now hate VH-1. Thank you.

  4. Hahaha! by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 5, Insightful

    While most Slashdot readers are familiar with many of the facts of the case and the law...

    Hahaha!

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    1. Re:Hahaha! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Aren't you the apple-fan who claimed that people can't distinguish Tab from iPad?

    2. Re:Hahaha! by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2

      I am an owner of both an iPad and a Tab who has described the similarity between the two products, including coworkers thinking I somehow got the Android Home Screen on my iPad.

      Fan? No. Somebody that has first-hand experience to bring to this discussion? Yes.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    3. Re:Hahaha! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "It's obvious just from walking down the tablet aisle that Samsung went out of their way to copy the iPad in as much detail as they thought they could get away with.". You don't sound much more qualified than others, and with bias and mind already set.

    4. Re:Hahaha! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ouch.

    5. Re:Hahaha! by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2

      Instead of developing my opinion from the polarized sources around the internet, I came to that conclusion after physically handling both. On a side note, I like both devices.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    6. Re:Hahaha! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, if this keeps up, you'll only be ABLE to like one device.

      Also, I'm not quite sure how people confused the two. One has a big button on the front, the other doesn't. One has a picture of a fruit on the back, the other has the word "Samsung".

    7. Re:Hahaha! by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

      Like I said, physically handling them makes a difference. Try it.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    8. Re:Hahaha! by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      I had both for a while and never got confused. They look obviously different to me.

      So my anecdote invalidates your anecdote. Ha. Doesn't really matter anyway, the only point of law in question here is if a normal person would be dumb enough to buy the wrong one.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    9. Re:Hahaha! by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

      My coworkers and Google thought so.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  5. Re:Hey fuckerlords by ThatsMyNick · · Score: 1

    Metamoderation already take care of this. I wish I could mod you redundant.

  6. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by NatasRevol · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Wait, you mean a judge previously issued a legal ruling?

    BIAS!!!

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  7. Re:Hey fuckerlords by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In your dreams asshole. Metamoderation is a running joke here.

  8. Re:Hey fuckerlords by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When you have that many points, it means that you either have to post or moderate, you effectively can't do both as you're awash with mod points. I had hundreds of them going bad since the change. Now I rarely bother to moderate when I have points.

  9. Re:DID YOU KNOW VH-1 WAS THE FIRST TO LOGO 24/7 ?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    (Score:-1, Informative)

  10. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 1

    Wait, you mean a judge previously issued a legal ruling?

     
    Yep, the very same judge Lucy Koh, ruling against Samsung, on the a case which is very very close to this one
     

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
  11. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by guises · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I don't know what his bias is, but the facts are that she granted an injunction against the sale of Samsung phones on the basis of a few very weak patents. The strongest of which, apparently, was a search function that could search both the local phone and the internet at the same time.

    I am not optimistic about this case.

  12. Function based design by RichMan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You want a screen on the front. Ok it will be flat in front.
    You want to minimize cost. Ok as few elements as possible
    You want to use it flat on a desk. Ok it will be flat in the back.
    You want it to fit in a pocket. Ok it will be rectangular. .... form follows function. Similar function means similar form.

    1. Re:Function based design by Swampash · · Score: 4, Informative

      You want a screen on the front. Ok it will be flat in front.
      You want to minimize cost. Ok as few elements as possible
      You want to use it flat on a desk. Ok it will be flat in the back.
      You want it to fit in a pocket. Ok it will be rectangular. .... form follows function. Similar function means similar form.

      Yet strangely enough no-one actually did all this totally-obvious stuff with a phone before the iPhone was released.

    2. Re:Function based design by santax · · Score: 2, Informative

      Ever looked at the nokia-line? 3310? 8850? And a zillion other phones just like that?

    3. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      LG did.

    4. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      form follows function. Similar function means similar form

      Which is why a Lamborghini Aventador is visually indistinguishable from a Porsche Cayman ... no wait!

    5. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'll second that. I used to work in the phone industry and no one got all the pieces right. Many high end phones had parts of it right, but none of them put all the pieces together. The first smart phones that came out between 1998-2001 looked nothing like iPhone. All of them had physical number pad or key pad. Nokia even had one that was used in a James Bond film, but look closely and it was different. Yes, there were plenty of iPad like devices over the years. Newton, Palm and many others, but none of them had all the pieces put together. iPad is a consumer device, not a general purpose computer. All of the prior products were either personal digital assitants (PDA) or general purpose computers stripped down.

    6. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'm fairly certain that the reason iPhone 4 got a glass back was because the iPhone 3G / 3GS back could take enough abuse to look banged up without actually making the phone not functional. The result was a bunch of iPhones out there that looked like crap. Apple pays a lot of attention to aesthetics, and I would absolutely expect them to make that kind of sacrifice.

    7. Re:Function based design by Locutus · · Score: 2

      I saw this in the 1990s with US car designs. They all started to take the same aerodynamic shape and then it was like a switch was thrown. They then all started adding square corners here and there. To the front( Cadillac ), the rear( Taurus ) and even down the sides of the car. Certain design goals will lead you to a common shape and design and in the car industry it was aerodynamics. Apple did this when the iPhone used a huge display screen on the front with next to nothing else but the screen.

      LoB

      --
      "Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus
    8. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You want it to not look like an iPad: Okay, it's been done a hundred other times by not-Samsung.

    9. Re:Function based design by Dynedain · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You want a screen on the front. Ok it will be flat in front.
      Yet before Apple, every smartphone and tablet had substantial bezels encroaching the screen to "protect" the screen if you put it face down, plus give you a space to grab onto. Apple made significant design impact that changed the market radically.

      You want to minimize cost. Ok as few elements as possible
      Actually, Apple has spent far more to achieve the minimalist design. This is common as minimalist designs (from products to architecture) usually require far more expensive manufacturing processes to achieve more precise tolerances since any minor manufacturing mistake is much harder to hide. Also, sacrifices must be made to assembly parts, often requiring all new parts be created to meet the form-factor constraints. Not to mention labor costs in design are much higher.

      You want to use it flat on a desk. Ok it will be flat in the back.
      Is Apple really challenging a flat back? Didn't think so.

      You want it to fit in a pocket. Ok it will be rectangular
      There have been many different ratios of screensize and device. Apple's particular ratios were not common in mobile devices pre-iPhone.

      Now, combine everything together so that the design patents are seen as a whole, and yes, Apple made a fairly innovative product that has dramatically changed the smartphone market (including triggering the downfall of RIM and Palm). Pretending that what Apple did is somehow uninovative because other products had this or that feature before is ignoring reality.

      And here's the big kicker. So what if Samsung had internal prototypes and designs that look similar to the iPhone before the iPhone launched? Apple got to market first, and used the Design Patent system as it is intended to protect their design from knock-offs and wannabees. Sucks to be Samsung, but thats how this is meant to work.

      --
      I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
    10. Re:Function based design by Swampash · · Score: 4, Informative

      Ever looked at the nokia-line? 3310? 8850? And a zillion other phones just like that?

      What, you mean phones that are NOT flat on the front, have LOTS of interface elements (shit, count the frickin' buttons), are NOT flat in the back, and are NOT rectangular - and in the case of the 8850, actually change shape and size depending on what you're doing at the time?

    11. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      You mean like the LG Prada and the Samsung F700, all release within months of each other back in 2006 compared to the i device?

      Unless you think that you can design, manufacture, program, and ship something in less then 2 months... or in the case of the Prada, negative amount of months.

    12. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You do realize that the first 3 phones from APL also had a metal rim that encroached around the sides?

      Again, I'll remind you of the original LG Prada. Released in 2006 and has (albeit a bit thicker due to technology at the time) like an i4 / 4s with a metallic band around the side without anything encroaching around the side to protect it's screen. It also has the camera -- WITH a flash -- in the upperright hand corner.

      Here's a pic: http://www.auroracell.com/KE850_1.jpg

      This Prada phone actually has 3 buttons on the front, like Samsung. If you're arguing for Samsung, you're also arguing against yourself for the Prada.

    13. Re:Function based design by Terrasque · · Score: 1

      LG Prada?
      IBM Simon?
      O2 XDA series?

      Palm Pilot?
      Compaq iPaq?
      Qtek s100?

      --
      It's The Golden Rule: "He who has the gold makes the rules."
    14. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It wasn't Apple who made the flat front possible, it was Corning. Apple did do it before it was possible though and the screens predictably scratched. Design follows utility once again. Oh, and LG did it at the same time.

    15. Re:Function based design by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      It's not just the shape of cars, though. For instance, practically everyone started putting Altezza-style taillights on their cars through the aftermarket. Result, tons of cars come with Altezza-style taillights. Which, of course, look like some 1980s transformers shit, but they're on all kinds of supposedly classy cars now.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    16. Re:Function based design by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 0

      The lg prada and the F700 had plastic screens, no multitouch and missing a number of other design elements. When the iPhone was released, Samsung internal memos stated that they were in a crisis of design and to copy the iPhone. They also became obsessed with destroying Apple sometime in 2010.

      Try again.

      --
      Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
    17. Re:Function based design by Inda · · Score: 1

      Aerodynamics aren't the whole story.

      As far as pressing go, and there are typically 450 panels on a car, the more folds, creases, flanges and piercings there are, the more expensive they are to design and press. This was the main factor in making generic round cars, not the aerodynamics. It's an easy way to spot higher quality cars; the creases on the door outer panels.

      --
      This post contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.
    18. Re:Function based design by Swampash · · Score: 1

      You mean like the LG Prada and the Samsung F700, all release within months of each other back in 2006 compared to the i device?

      I know nothing about the LG phone but the Samsung F700 wasn't even announced until 16 Feb 2007 at the Barcelona 3GSM WC event, a month after Apple had demonstrated the iPhone at Macworld on 9 January 2007.

    19. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You seem to be confused about what constitutes "design". Plastic vs glass screens, multitouch and "a number of other design elements" aren't the part of the dispute.

      What's disputed is approximately this - "configuration of electronic device consisting of a rectangular shape with rounded corners, flat front surface level with the edges, screen centered on the surface, bezel around the screen etc.". You can check out the filings for actual description. "Multitouch" isn't mentioned in there, though might be mentioned in utility patents section.

      Or is your argument "They had flat front surface level with the edges etc. in SGH-F700 but they had plastic screen, and then they started copying Apple's glass screen"?

      Try again.

    20. Re:Function based design by Compaqt · · Score: 1

      You've bought into Apple propaganda.

      Look at the graphic provided by Samsung here.

      There were plenty of phones with touchscreen-only (no keyboard), black, and round corners before the iPhone.

      How can Apple claim something as its own original work when neither the design nor even the name was original! (The name iPhone was owned by Cisco.) Just because Apple spends a lot on marketing and the media contribute to the Apple hype doesn't mean that they deserve exclusive rights to the basic touchscreen smartphone.

      --
      I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog
    21. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, they managed to copy iPhone and produce a working phone to demonstrate at 3GSM WC in a month, quite a feat of (copycat) engineering. They even went back in time to lodge a design patent for F700 with korean patent office in Dec 2006, before iPhone was presented. Their engineers wasted time machine (sadly, destroyed after this feat) on copying yet unknown to be succesful at that time phone design. That's instead of, I dunno, killing Hitler or preventing 9/11.

      Truly, korean copycat abilities are frightening.

    22. Re:Function based design by Compaqt · · Score: 1

      What are you talking about? The Apple design patent doesn't mention multitouch, nor plastic or metal. It only talks about a design patent for an electronic device, and then gives a few pencil sketches of a tablet with round corners.

      Again, the design patent does not include a photograph. It has pencil sketches. If someone made a pencil sketch of an F700, it would look just like what Apple submitted to the Patent Office.

      --
      I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog
    23. Re:Function based design by Compaqt · · Score: 1

      A Korean design patent for this black, rectangular, round-cornered phone was filed by Samsung in December 2006 prior to the release of the image of the iPhone[1] (Wiki)

      --
      I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog
    24. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You want a screen on the front. Ok it will be flat in front.
      Yet before Apple, every smartphone and tablet had substantial bezels encroaching the screen to "protect" the screen if you put it face down, plus give you a space to grab onto. Apple made significant design impact that changed the market radically.

      So it's not a purely cosmetic design - design patent should be invalid.

      You want to minimize cost. Ok as few elements as possible
      Actually, Apple has spent far more to achieve the minimalist design. This is common as minimalist designs (from products to architecture) usually require far more expensive manufacturing processes to achieve more precise tolerances since any minor manufacturing mistake is much harder to hide. Also, sacrifices must be made to assembly parts, often requiring all new parts be created to meet the form-factor constraints. Not to mention labor costs in design are much higher.

      I agree with the cost motivation being wrong - the real motivation is the minimalist design is to make it as fool-proof as possible, to simplify it's function. Again, not a purely cosmetic design, so the design patent should be invalid.

      You want to use it flat on a desk. Ok it will be flat in the back.
      Is Apple really challenging a flat back? Didn't think so.

      The general 'flat rectangle' shape is part of the design, so I would say yes.

      You want it to fit in a pocket. Ok it will be rectangular
      There have been many different ratios of screensize and device. Apple's particular ratios were not common in mobile devices pre-iPhone.

      I'm pretty sure the ratio of the device itself was fairly common before the iPhone, because it's a good fit to a generic pocket and generic hand (not a cosmetic design choice...). The ratio between the screen and the device was not: there were few devices with a screen filling most of the device, because most devices had a keyboard using up most of the space - again, not a cosmetic design choice.

      Now, combine everything together so that the design patents are seen as a whole, and...

      ...there are at least four non-cosmetic reasons to have certain elements of that design, so the design patent as a whole should be invalid!

      The question is: can a competing product offer similar functionality without implementing those same design elements? If the answer is 'no', then the design patents should be invalid.

    25. Re:Function based design by PortHaven · · Score: 1

      Yes, but form follows function as technology allows.

      Most devices were big, clunky, etc. Because parts were bigger, clunky, etc. The truth is, we'd have probably seen an iPhone in 1-2 years regardless of Apple.

      Also, this is nearly akin to saying you can't have a mouse, because Apple has a one button mouse. But no mouses are allowed by anyone but Apple.

    26. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fucking ignorant motherfuckers are getting old.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TC1100-1.JPG

    27. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your mistake is comparing older phones with buttons to touch screen ones. How much different shapes can you make if the front screen should be a screen as big as possible? Look how many different touch screen phones are there and how similar they look to each other. The only variation you can add is when you add physical buttons, but what if you want to reduce their number (i.e. it is a touch screen phone you can draw buttons). It is kind of like designing a knife, in how many ways can you design it to be still simple to use and functional?

    28. Re:Function based design by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      And here's the big kicker. So what if Samsung had internal prototypes and designs that look similar to the iPhone before the iPhone launched? Apple got to market first, and used the Design Patent system as it is intended to protect their design from knock-offs and wannabees. Sucks to be Samsung, but thats how this is meant to work.

      wrong. that's not how patents work. you aren't awarded a patent for being first to market.

    29. Re:Function based design by Dynedain · · Score: 1

      Design Patents != Functional Patents.
      Design Patens are purely first to file.

      --
      I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
    30. Re:Function based design by Dynedain · · Score: 1

      And yet none of those pre-iPhone designs actually existed in the market.

      Did Samsung show ALL their pre-iPhone designs? No, becuase you would see that the vast majority of their internal pre-iPhone designs didn't look anything like the iPhone. Just like none of their pre-iPhone releases looked like the iPhone.

      The fact is, Samsung did not release a full-face touchscreen device until after the iPhone complete redirected the market. Combine this with the very similar styling, and copy-cat launcher iconography, and you have a court case.

      --
      I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
    31. Re:Function based design by Dynedain · · Score: 1

      The metal rim around the side on the iPhone through iPhone 3GS is essentially flush with the surface of the device. I think you can agree that's a very different design than:
      http://c2499022.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/palm-centro-bell.jpg

      I agree the Prada phone you showed looks pretty close to the iPhone 4. Did Prada apply for a Design Patent on it?

      --
      I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
    32. Re:Function based design by Dynedain · · Score: 1

      The question is: can a competing product offer similar functionality without implementing those same design elements? If the answer is 'no', then the design patents should be invalid.

      Yes, look at all the other Android, Windows, (even Palm and RIM if you want) devices out there that Apple isn't suing over.

      --
      I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
    33. Re:Function based design by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 1
      --
      Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
    34. Re:Function based design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Okay" what? The article basically says "It had slide-out keyboard and it also wasn't a smartphone and TouchWiz has no cool X-Y highlight, therefore Samsung copies Apple". Because, surely, only way to go from slider touchscreen feature phone to a keyboardless smartphone is throwing everything away and grabbing carbon paper, caliper and a competitor's phone.

    35. Re:Function based design by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 1

      Yeah. actually.

      This, combined with the fact that post-iPhone samsung freaking PANICKED and said, "We've got a crisis of design and we're going to copy the iPhone, now."?

      Samsung copied Apple.

      --
      Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
    36. Re:Function based design by toddestan · · Score: 1

      Agreed. Cars are more about form over function nowadays. I'd be surprised if a lot of the common elements in new cars like giant wheel flares, bulbous lights, weird bulges, and oversized front grills do anything but hurt the aerodynamics. Other styling elements like high beltlines and large pillars have also cut way down on visibility. In some ways I miss the cars of the 90's - perhaps boring, but also simple and functional design.

    37. Re:Function based design by Dynedain · · Score: 1

      Corning had been sitting on Gorilla glass since the 60s without putting anything into production. Then Apple came along in 2006 and said "we'll buy every gram you can possible produce".

      Now almost every smartphone uses it.

      I'd say Apple made the flat front possible. No-one else went shopping around to materials companies and said "I need X and am willing to pay for it". Everyone else put up with inferior materials until Apple changed the game.

      --
      I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
    38. Re:Function based design by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Some of the weird bulges are designed specifically to improve aerodynamics, and some are there just for looks. High beltlines go with large wheels which improve ride quality... at a big cost in rubber. The large grills are mostly lame but some cars have a prominent but not large grill, like the 300M, which is a pretty direct knockoff of my car, a 300SD (but really, any W126-body) but with inferior (E-class) suspension design from when it was DaimlerChrysler. The tall skinny grill is actually pretty good.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  13. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by NatasRevol · · Score: 2, Informative

    So what?

    Did the facts support the ruling? Or are you just assuming BIAS!!

      "All Things D got a copy of Koh's order, and we just gave it a quick read. Turns out that she granted the injunction due to the strength of the merits of Apple's case and the unlikelihood that Samsung would invalidate Apple's design patent -- the court already held that the 10.1 is "virtually indistinguishable" from the iPad's design and likely infringes Apple's IP. Furthermore, Judge Koh held that, because Apple and Samsung are direct competitors in the tablet space and "design mattered more to customers in making tablet purchases," Apple would be irreparably harmed by further 10.1 sales. Those two factors outweighed any hardship suffered by Samsung, and thus, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was stricken from US shelves."
    - http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/26/judge-koh-stops-us-sales-of-galaxy-tab-10-1-puts-a-smack-down-o/

    Any legal arguments you have against that? Note legal, not made up shit.

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  14. End Apple's patent trolling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The subject title says it all. End Apple's patent trolling. Apple is the new Microsoft. Apple...No innovation, all litigation.

  15. Re:Why? by bhagwad · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A time comes for every electronic device where the basic form factor becomes obvious. Let me tell you that I was using pure touchscreen devices with rounded corners long before Apple came out with the iPhone. Apple was the only company dickish enough to patent the designs the industry was already converging on. For that they should be sanctioned.

    I mean, even in a world where corporations are generally assholes, Apple managed to outdo the other players in the industry in sheer assholery. That's the only thing they deserve a patent for.

  16. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 0

    Or are you just assuming BIAS!!

     
    Did I say anything about "BIAS"??
     
    That "BIAS" word was from YOU, not me
     
    All I am concerned with is the conduct of the judge Lucy Koh, - the same judge who ruled against Samsung, in a very closely related case, for Apple, presiding over this case, in which Apple and Samsung _are_ the contenders
     
    And let me repeat - it's YOU who uttered the word "BIAS", not me
     

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
  17. Re:Why? by santax · · Score: 0

    @mac.com aye? At least try to hide it from your username...

  18. So let me get this straight by philofaqs · · Score: 1

    If you have any technical nous at all, read tech sites or news paper reports, you can't be a juror on a case that requires the jury to understand tech stuff, really for this sort of case the law needs changing as it does for fraud cases which last years and the jury really don't have a clue. These tech lawsuits are getting out of hand, I believe judges can declare platiffs to be in contempt of court and bar them from further prosections.

  19. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I would argue that apple's design patent is invalid.

    Here is why, and it has nothing to do with opinion of apple:

    A design patent can only be legally issued for "unique, new, and novel" shapes and design motifs.

    Apple's idevice designs are none of those. They basically looked at a cheap plastic picture frame, and copied it.

    Many consumer products come in this form factor, and have for a very long time. Here are some examples:

    Chinese dry erase board, tablet size

    Wooden round cornered picture frames

    aluminum picture frame, chinese

    For reference, here is what the iPad looks like.

    complimentary iPad image

    The color of the inactive display (black) is not a design feature. It is a feature of how the technology works.

    I have seen plastic picture frames that are flat out strikingly like the iPad in aesthetic design in art stores since the late 80s, when plastic really became popular as a choice. If you are showcasing an image, using a picture frame as an aesthetic inspiration is a no-brainer.

    Apple should not have been granted this patent.

  20. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by NatasRevol · · Score: 2

    You didn't use the word bias, but you sure described it. "I am concerned with is the conduct of the judge Lucy Koh" is about as clear as it gets.

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  21. Re:Why? by bhagwad · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's amazing how deep you're encased in Apple's lies to the extent that you can't even believe that there were other similar phones before. Tut tut.

  22. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

    They basically looked at a cheap plastic picture frame, and copied it.

    And with this, your argument about design patents is over.

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  23. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by dreamchaser · · Score: 0

    You asked if anyone thought the judge could be fair and implied if not outright said that you thought said judge was biased. Get over it and stop trolling.

  24. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It sounds like your argument is because this judge ruled fairly against Samsung the first time, she is going to come in the 2nd time just assuming they are guilty of whatever. They did it last time, probably guilty this time too! You are calling her personal and professional character into account without any supporting evidence. This is why people are calling you biased. If she had ruled for Samsung would you still have posted this? If no then you are indeed biased. If yes then you are attacking someone with no mention of why. Of course people are going to think you are biased against Apple. Maybe if you told us why she couldn't possibly rule fairly a 2nd time we could argue that instead. Do you think women aren't able to rule fairly? Or do you just think judges are hacks who can't possibly rule based on the evidence of each case separately?

  25. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    oh it goes a lot further back than that

    here's a wax tablet from 100ad

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_7j3LiBHJdbE/SwHrho5yX4I/AAAAAAAAAVM/VK8iVp6aOIY/s1600/wax+2.jpg

  26. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by cheesybagel · · Score: 1

    I would grant a design patent to the guy which invented the cantilever chair. Not for this plastic rectangle.

  27. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 0

    I am concerned with is the conduct of the judge Lucy Koh

     
    Yes, that is what I said
     
    I do not know where you learn your logic from, the sentence "I am concerned with is the conduct of the judge Lucy Koh" and the word "BIAS" has no co-relationship at all
     
    I can be concern of your conduct, or the conduct of a child, but that does not mean I am concerned with your "BIAS" or the child's "BIAS"
     
    Or perhaps you should re-take English 101
     

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
  28. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 1

    The cheap plastic frame was itself copied from designer wood designs, like those listed.

    Do try to read the whole post.

    Plastic frames became an inexpensive choice over expensive wood ones, especially for holding small format family photographs, especially since clear plastic was shatter resistant, where glass covers were not.

    This led to an incremental design choice, which was not patented and widely copied where the frame portion of the plastic was directly molded with the clear covering to make it perfectly smooth on top, not unlike the idevice design. Putting a digital image display inside such a factor would look very much like an ipad, because an ipad looks like a plastic picture frame.

    Apple is claiming to have invented this form factor, that it is new and novel, and that it warrants patent protection and international enforcement.

    The existence of prior art for the design in the form of inexpensive picture frames does not give credibility to that claim.

    Also, your rebuttle is a logical fallacy. Just thought you should now.

    (Specifically, an "appeal to authority" type one.)

  29. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 0

    You asked if anyone thought the judge could be fair ...

     
    Yes, I did ask that
     
     

    ... and implied if not outright said that you thought said judge was biased ...

     
    Nope, that "implied" thing is a conjecture in your own mind.
     
    I never said "BIAS" and never meant it
     
    My concern was if the judge Lucy Koh could be fair in this case
     
    I never talked about, or implied, or whatnot, in regards to "BIAS"
     

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
  30. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by bws111 · · Score: 1

    Of course, none of those things you cited are 'electronic devices', which are what the patent claims.

  31. Re:Why? by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

    There were? What touch based OS did they run?

  32. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That was after initially denying an injunction, and then being reversed on the assumption of the patent's likelihood to be invalid by the appellate court.

    Maybe you're assuming bias without all the facts.

    http://www.fosspatents.com/2012/06/galaxy-tab-101-banned-in-us-over-design.html

  33. Bias experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In this case:
    Number of jurors who own both iPhone and Samsung phones = s
    Number of jurors who own an iPhone = x
    Number of jurors who own a Samsung = y
    Number of jurors stuck in the precambrian period = z

    Bias = (s|x|y|z/12) * 100

    For an unbiased jury towards this (and potentially any x vs y) case, % of Bias is ideal for z = 100%
    Any value for s will be deemed a slashdottian and immediately barred/ejected_into_space from the case.

    * It may be worth noting the true figures of x and y if made available to the public versus the resulting final decision of the case when handed down.
    * A side experiment would be to, after the case is resolved and the court disbanded, track tweets of the jurors, the FB walls and other ramblings to get further insight into the justice system and how it 'fa... works'. /cough

    1. Re:Bias experiment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Number of jurors is 10. You're not as clever as you think you are

  34. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 1, Interesting

    It sounds like your argument is because this judge ruled fairly against Samsung the first time, she is going to come in the 2nd time just assuming they are guilty of whatever

     
    See the emphasis above?
     
    " It sounds like ..." does not hold water in this discussion
     
    What I said, and I believed I have stated it clearly, more than once, was that I am concerned about the conduct of the judge Lucy Koh, and her ability to be fair
     
    I never said, and never meant, just because that judge Koh ruled against Samsung in a previous case, she must be "BIASED"
     
    No, what I meant, to put it in one simple sentence, is this-
     
    If I were Judge Lucy Koh, I would excuse myself from this case, or else, no matter how I conduct myself in this case, people will still question whether my judgement is fair
     
    It has nothing to do with any "implication" of whether or not Judge Lucy Koh is "BIAS" or not
     
    It has everything to do with the perception of fairness
     

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
  35. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It could very easily exist in the form of a digital picture frame, which would then look very much like an idevice, and be a digital device.

    Claiming "but not in a digital device!" Is like claiming "On the internet!" Or "On a computer!" In a patent for something done commonly for years, as if it were not obvious.

    While comonly granted, such protections should not have been enacted.

  36. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 1

    Are you a patent lawyer or patent clerk? Why do you base your judgment on this if you're not? What's the legal precedent?

    Besides, Sammy is fucked. Their internal communications basically said, "copy the iPhone. Now. Before we become irrelevant.". That's fucking damning.

    --
    Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
  37. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 1

    A simple google image search for "digital picture frame rounded corners" yeilded this product on page one.

    oh look. A digital picture frame.

    It was listed on that site over a year ago. Its fair to say it has been on the market awhile. It is arguable if it was designed due to the popularity of the ipad and iphone, but it has existed in the market as a digital device and as far as I know, the manufacturer has not been sued for at least a whole year.

    Again, the product was returned on the fist page of image results.

  38. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Besides, Sammy is fucked. Their internal communications basically said, "copy the iPhone. Now. Before we become irrelevant.". That's fucking damning.

     
    If you know Koreans, you would know that one special Korean characteristic is that they are one of the most stubborn race in this world
     
    If you ever talk to any ship crew or flight crew that had Korean captains, you would understand why ship crews / flight crews all over the world are very scared of Korean captains - even when there is a huge storm brewing in front of the vessel/plane, the Korean captain would still give the "go straight ahead" order
     
    Even after Google warned them of their products look too much like that from Apple, Samsung still went ahead and did what they did
     

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
  39. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 1

    Often the burden of proof for obviousness is "the opinion of a lay person of that field." I am not a patent lawyers, but I have dealt with framing images and prints, and have been for years.

    The aesthetic layout of the ipad looks exactly like a cropped, matted, and framed image in an inexpensive frame.

    Claiming that this is new and novel is fundementally false. Images have been framed like that for decades before apple even considered making a tablet. This is evidenced by the wide number of products that incorporate that style, which is surprisingly popular for "ultramodern" and "utilitarian" themed apartments and interior decorating themes.

    Apple has merely incorporated those design elements into yet another product that makes use of it.

    They do not have any more right to claim it as new, novel, and deserving of protection than does any of the manufacturers of the exhibited products, because it is none of those things, the original implementer of the design is anonymous, and the theme is considered generic.

    You might even get hits for similar products with the search string "generic utilitarian theme frame".

  40. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by noh8rz6 · · Score: 0

    No, "implied" means something that you said, and "inferred" means something that you interpreted. You "implied" that the judge could not be impartial because she made a prior ruling in this case. What about referees? A ref throws a red flag on one team, so he must be biased for the rest of the game? I await your response.

    --
    Don't be a h8r.
  41. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by noh8rz6 · · Score: 0

    Often the burden of proof for obviousness is "the opinion of a lay person of that field." I am not a patent lawyers, but I have dealt with framing images and prints, and have been for years.

    technically, in this case "that field" refers to consumer electronics, not Aaron bros framing stores.

    --
    Don't be a h8r.
  42. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

    I am concerned with is the conduct of the judge Lucy Koh

    Yes, that is what I said (No Period)

    I do not know where you learn (incorrect usage of a past participle -know- (and I assume here the person you are referring to has already been to an institution and has since left?, correct is to say 'I do not know where you learned') your logic (where implies from, chop it.), the sentence "I am concerned with is the conduct of the judge Lucy Koh" and the word "BIAS" has no co-relationship (Made up word, relationship explains here what you mean just fine minus the co-, or you could restructure to use correlation) at all (No Period)

    I can be concern (sigh,I think you mean 'I can/could/should? be concerned for) your conduct, or the conduct of a child, but that does not mean I am concerned with your (ah so you mean could be)"BIAS" or the child's "BIAS" Again No Period!

    Or perhaps you should re-take English 101 (buh bow, you are assuming that the person has taken English 101; just as I assume you have done so too... Or have you?) Again No Period!! Although in this sense I think you are directing an attack and should have used the exclamation mark!!!

  43. Re:Why? by bhagwad · · Score: 2

    I meant "keyboardless" devices with a large screen taking up almost all real estate. My first one was a Palm, my second ran Windows CE and the third was an HTC OS. This lawsuit is about form factor not "finger touch" technology. And there were plenty of similar form factors before.Just because the iPhone was very popular doesn't mean they invented the form factor.

  44. Judge Koh, to you by Theaetetus · · Score: 1

    Isn't the judge, - Lucy Koh, - the same judge that grant an injunction for Apple, against Samsung ?

    As illustrated in Slashdot's report on http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/07/02/0241212/samsung-appeals-apples-injunction-against-galaxy-nexus

    The preliminary injunction in this same exact case?

    How fair you think this judge Lucy Koh can conduct herself?

    Very fair. She's previously ruled against Apple on several matters.

    But I have a more important question... You keep not capitalizing the word "judge" and keep emphasizing that her name is "Lucy"? Is this a subtle attempt to troll based on her gender? Is this a classic "she's a woman, what does she know about technology" bit of sexist FUD? Why exactly should we think you are being fair?

  45. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are saying that she might not be able to be fair.
    This is equivalent to saying that she might be unfair.
    Now please explain the difference between an unfair judge and a biased judge.

  46. Re:Why? by BigFootApe · · Score: 1

    My Palm OS device preferred stylus, but could work (badly) with finger touch as well. Resistive touch screens.

  47. Concern Troll by Theaetetus · · Score: 1

    You asked if anyone thought the judge could be fair ...

    Yes, I did ask that

    ... and implied if not outright said that you thought said judge was biased ...

    Nope, that "implied" thing is a conjecture in your own mind. I never said "BIAS" and never meant it My concern was if the judge Lucy Koh could be fair in this case

    Holy shiat, dude. You're the most transparent concern troll in history. Do you think ANYONE will fall for this? And come on, with the way you keep emphasizing "judge LUCY," are we really supposed to take you seriously at all?

    1. Re:Concern Troll by Deorus · · Score: 2

      Holy shiat, dude. You're the most transparent concern troll in history. Do you think ANYONE will fall for this? And come on, with the way you keep emphasizing "judge LUCY," are we really supposed to take you seriously at all?

      God damn man, I was having fun with the trolls!

  48. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 1

    And Jony Ive has been open with the fact that he gets inspiration from Braun, Sony and other firms.

    The problem here isn't that Samsung is being inspired by the iPhone, it's that they aren't adding new ideas and with the S3, we see a huge improvement, but the fact that it still has the IPhone like menu button is disconcerting.

    The current mobile phone landscape is depressing. Apple is one of the few firms with good ideas, although HTC and Nokia are really on base lately and I hope that trend continues, but they're being jerks. Nearly everyone else has no ideas and that's worse. At least apple is bringing something new to the table.

    --
    Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
  49. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    Also the same judge who found Apple and a bunch of other companies to be guilty of engaging in non-poaching deals.

  50. Mod parent troll down by Theaetetus · · Score: 1

    How fair you think this judge Lucy Koh can conduct herself?

    If I were Judge Lucy Koh, I would excuse myself from this case, or else, no matter how I conduct myself in this case, people will still question whether my judgement is fair

    My concern was if the judge Lucy Koh could be fair in this case

    Of course, Judge Koh is Korean-American. From his previous posts:

    If you know Koreans, you would know that one special Korean characteristic is that they are one of the most stubborn race in this world

    1. Re:Mod parent troll down by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 1

      FYI, judge Lucy Koh is not a Korean-American

      She is a Chinese-American

      Get your facts right, please
       

      --
      Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
    2. Re:Mod parent troll down by Theaetetus · · Score: 2

      FYI, judge Lucy Koh is not a Korean-American

      She is a Chinese-American

      Get your facts right, please

      Obama picks Korean American for federal bench

      President Obama has nominated Lucy Koh, a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge, to the federal bench in San Jose. If confirmed, she would be the nation's second Korean American federal judge.

      She is the daughter of Korean immigrants. Her mother escaped North Korea after the 1945 division of Korea by walking south for two weeks while suffering from yellow fever, and her father fought against the Communists in the Korean War, then opposed a military dictatorship in South Korea and immigrated to the United States, according to the Asian American Justice Center, a civil rights group.

  51. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    Except you can not confuse a totally different product with an iPad, but you can confuse a tablet with an iPad if it shares a similar design.

  52. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 1

    Do I think apple should get trade dress protection? Yes.

    Do I think their design is innovative? No.
    Does it deserve patent protection? No.
    Did samsung copy the design? Probably.

    Then again, I think samsung should get away with it. They were marketing a popular and generic form factor, that fits with current "ultramodern" and "utilitarian" design choices. This is likely the same marketing decision apple used when *they* chose the form factor: it will look good in an apartment when placed with similarly themed objects. It will look like it belongs. Ultramodern and utilitarian are decorating themes commonly used in dense urban apartments, due to the sleek appearance and inexpensive pricetag. It caters to their target demographic. Denying samsung the right to also use this aesthetic style in their devices is not appropriate.

  53. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    I do not know where you learn your logic from, the sentence "I am concerned with is the conduct of the judge Lucy Koh" and the word "BIAS" has no co-relationship at all

    That's because you are a retard. You implied bias the moment you demonstrated concerns about the judge and pointed out a previous ruling as a reason for your concern. If you were not implying bias, you would not be concerned.

  54. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

    Are you seriously saying that wood frames are prior art to plastic frames which are prior art to the iPhone?

    Because, if you are, you've drug me down to your level, you idiot.

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  55. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by NatasRevol · · Score: 1
    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  56. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    My concern was if the judge Lucy Koh could be fair in this case

    Oh, so are you afraid she might be fair? Well in that case you should be concerned, because given her track record that's very likely... If that's not what you meant, then you are concerned about she being biased. So, which is it?

  57. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 1

    Please read my messages again, if you have the time

    I did not say whether judge Lucy Koh "might not able to be fair"

    I said that I am concerned whether or not judge Lucy Koh can be fair, and how she would conduct herself

    This is getting to the realm of splitting hair - but please, stop putting words into my mouth - I said what I said, and I stand by what I said - as for other things that you or others want to implied, or inferred, or whatever, they are all pure conjectures from your own minds
     

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
  58. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    A simple google image search for "digital picture frame rounded corners" yeilded this product on page one.

    Except you have to take all design patents into account at the same time, not individually.

  59. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 1

    Confusing a product with another, counterfiet product is a trade dress violation, and is completely unrelated to design patent protection.

    That would be confusing "arachnaboy" for spiderman, because it's an action figure, dressed in red and blue, with spiderweb motifs, in a blue and red blister pack. The product clearly tries to confuse the buyer into thinking it is the same, and stomps on intellectual property.

    The samsung galaxy tablet does not claim to be an ipad. It is visually different from an ipad. If it were packaged in a similar box, it would be a trade dress violation, but it is not a counterfiet ipad. It is a fully competing product that appeals to the same aesthetic design class.

    A patent is for a radically new aesthetic choice.

    Eg: "ultramodern", "utilitarian", and "apple".

    Where "apple" is clearly distinct from the first two, and defines the aesthetic character of a unique and special product like no other.

    The problem is that "apple" is not an interior design category, and the design of apple's devices fits squarely within the first two, right along with brightly colored ergonomic chairs, white carpets on smooth wood floors, and abstract minimalist prints in rounded cornered black frames on the walls. That is because the aesthetic character of the device was tailored to that specific market.

    Was it an avante guard choice? Certainly.
    Was it novel and new? No.
    Was it effective marketing? Clearly.

    The issue here is if we want to permit apple to have a monopoly on that aesthetic choice, or if we want more selection. As a consumer, I favor selection.

  60. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    Often the burden of proof for obviousness is "the opinion of a lay person of that field." I am not a patent lawyers, but I have dealt with framing images and prints, and have been for years.

    Ever heard of anyone who bought a picture frame thinking it was a tablet, or bought a tablet thinking it was a picture frame? Who are these lay people you're talking about?

  61. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 1

    I guess you can add "ad hominem" to your list of used logical fallacies.

    Do you have a specific counter argument that is not also a verbal slur to bring to the table, or is this debate over?

  62. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 0

    I do not know where you learn (incorrect usage of a past participle -know- (and I assume here the person you are referring to has already been to an institution and has since left?, correct is to say 'I do not know where you learned') your logic (where implies from, chop it.), the sentence "I am concerned with is the conduct of the judge Lucy Koh" and the word "BIAS" has no co-relationship (Made up word, relationship explains here what you mean just fine minus the co-, or you could restructure to use correlation) at all (No Period)

    Please, retry with proper grammar.

  63. An illustration of the problem on MacRumors.com by bkk_diesel · · Score: 0

    I came across the following article this morning that helped me identify some of the issues that Apple might have with Samsung:
    http://www.macrumors.com/2012/07/31/apples-opening-court-statement-focuses-on-samsungs-radical-shift-in-phone-design/

    In the "top rated comments" section after the article (specifically the comment by user "troop231"), you will see a handful of pictures of Apple and Samsung creations side-by-side.

    I'm not an expert in the legal aspects of the case at hand, but I found the comparisons presented to be illuminating.

  64. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 0

    I guess you can add "ad hominem" to your list of used logical fallacies.

    Ad hominem requires that the attack to the poster be used to subvert the discussion, which is not what I did. I addressed your post directly.

    Do you have a specific counter argument that is not also a verbal slur to bring to the table, or is this debate over?

    No, and formal logic does not require me to (see above).

  65. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    The samsung galaxy tablet does not claim to be an ipad. It is visually different from an ipad. If it were packaged in a similar box, it would be a trade dress violation, but it is not a counterfiet ipad. It is a fully competing product that appeals to the same aesthetic design class.

    Samsung's lawyers don't think so...

  66. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You will never make a living of being a Juror!

    I have to wonder, on what basis can these 10 random people claim to or assumed to and guaranteed to have the brain power to understand patent claims so that they can decide who is right?

    Given that there are very few engineers who can understand a patent and that patents are written by lawyers, asking random people instead of high profile patent lawyers to be jurors is insanely dumb.

  67. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    Given that there are very few engineers who can understand a patent and that patents are written by lawyers, asking random people instead of high profile patent lawyers to be jurors is insanely dumb.

    I guess that's exactly the point. People who are ignorant regarding a particular subject are less likely to show bias.

  68. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by petman · · Score: 1

    People who are ignorant regarding a particular subject would also be less likely to show good judgement. In the end, rather than judge the case based on its merits, which they don't have the capacity to understand, they might instead judge based on the bias they form due to the lawyers' charms & good looks, or the lawyers' eloquence & wit, or their skills with powerpoint presentations.

  69. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Intropy · · Score: 1

    Participating in the same argument from multiple accounts is dishonest.

  70. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Yes, there were many. You don't get touch based OS'; you get touch based shells. There were a few for Windows Mobile back in the day:

    http://andrewbradford.co.uk/blog/its%E2%80%A6not-an-iphone

    You do know Apple didn't invent mp3 players don't you?

  71. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 1

    I guess you can add "ad hominem" to your list of used logical fallacies.
     
    Do you have a specific counter argument that is not also a verbal slur to bring to the table, or is this debate over?

     
    AFAIAC, this debate is over
     
    There is no point of continue this discussion when they keep on putting words in my mouth, and when I pointed out the obvious to them, they came back with stuffs like "implied", "interpret", "inferred", and when I pointed to them that there was no such thing in what I had said, they retort in every which way they can, including the use of verbal diarrhea
     
    It's a waste of time trying to make sense to those whose neural cells can't function properly
     

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
  72. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 1

    Uhm? Ok?

    I replied to natasrevol, not to you...

    He outright called me an idiot, with the intent that my being one negated any value to my argument concerning the picture frame connection. I called him on it.

    If I somehow replied to the wrong post, you have my sinscere apologies.

  73. Re:Why? by man_the_king · · Score: 1

    Here you are HP iPAQ 6315 Pocket PC Phone: http://pocketnow.com/review/hp-ipaq-h6315-pocket-pc-phone-edition
    99% touchscreen - with both stylus and fingers.
    Rectangular with very slightly curved edges, with external antenna (as around that time, they hadn't figured out a way to incorporate the big-ass antenna into the phone, although this was somewhat rectified by the time HP iPAQ rz1715 came out).
    I owned it - from sometime 2004 to sometime in 2005.
    Based on this, I would say there's prior art for two things - touchscreen phones with rectangular shape with slightly rounded corners, and the "i" in front of a device name.

  74. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hahahaha... "Nearly everyone else has no ideas"... AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH

    OMG that was funny.

    Let's see:
    Android / S Beam?
    NFC Payments (paypass)
    Enhanced notifications (Jellybean)
    Google Now (predictive cards)
    Wireless controls in notification shade.
    Oh, notification shade (though that was 4 years ago for Android / Pre)
    Unlock screen shortcuts (HTC)
    Completely different homescreens (i.e. work mode, play mode -- HTC)
    Sharing presentation (whatever Sammy calls it)

    What's APL done lately that's a "good idea" that hasn't already been done earlier by some other company?

  75. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by justforgetme · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Bias towards what? Common sense?

    --
    -- no sig today
  76. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

    Yes, it's the same judge. That might have something to do with the fact that THIS IS THE SAME CASE.

    I haven't seen a more inane comment in quite awhile reach +5 Informative.

    And considering she's ruled against Apple in other major cases, I'd say she's doing a decent job so far.

  77. You're right! by circletimessquare · · Score: 1

    It does not make sense!

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  78. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    a search function that could search both the local phone and the internet at the same time

    Wasn't the Plan 9 filesystem protocol basically doing that ages ago? ISTR that local and remote resources were treated the same, so any kind of search function run on it would effectively be searching the local device and the network...

  79. Re:Why? by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

    Windows? That's not touch based. This is nothing at all like an iPhone.

  80. Re:Why? by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

    You don't think a touch based shell is slightly. . .inferior? There's a reason they don't sell phones like that today.

  81. Any insight into what "nonfunctional aspects" mean by Chuck+Chunder · · Score: 1

    A design patent protects the nonfunctional aspects of an ornamental design as shown in the patent

    Does this mean that:
    a) Parts of the design that have function cannot be legitimately included in a design patent (perhaps arguably everything on an iPhone!)?
    b) Parts of the design may have both functional and non-functional aspects but only the non-functional aspect is protected (for example if you had a round purple button in a certain place, other people couldn't put something round and purple in the same place regardless of whether it functioned as a button).
    c) Something else?

    --
    Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
  82. Re:Why? by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

    The iMac was released in 1998, so a phone from 2004 isn't prior art. These type of devices never took off because they were hacked together and ran an OS that was designed for a mouse. And the design looks nothing like an iPhone.

  83. Re:Why? by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

    Why?

  84. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Grudge2012 · · Score: 1

    Wait, you mean a judge previously issued a legal ruling?

    Yep, the very same judge Lucy Koh, ruling against Samsung, on the a case which is very very close to this one

    Errm, no it was this very case (11-CV-01846-LHK). Way to misunderstand how the legal system works you criticize.

  85. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Grudge2012 · · Score: 0

    I would argue that apple's design patent is invalid.

    Here is why, and it has nothing to do with opinion of apple:

    A design patent can only be legally issued for "unique, new, and novel" shapes and design motifs.

    Epic fail - you showed picture frames with the frame notably extruding from the picture level - the iPad is flat. Which is exactly one of the defining elements of the design patent.

  86. May they all be invalidated. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope the jury finds that all of the patents in question are invalid for one reason or another.

  87. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by dargaud · · Score: 2

    I don't understand how google doesn't have prior art on this. Anybody remembers google personal search or whatever it was called ? An executable for Windows that sorted through all your files, with a web interface, and that displayed results both from your computer and from the web.

    --
    Non-Linux Penguins ?
  88. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

    Interestingly enough Samsung did actually produce a very iDevice-like photo frame before the iPhone was even announced, let along the iPad: http://www.androidauthority.com/behold-samsungs-ipad-made-in-2006-21278/

    --
    const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
    SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  89. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by kenorland · · Score: 0

    Optimistic about what? That Apple will be able to continue to rip off innovators and inventors and then turn around and patent the fruits of other people's labor?

  90. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And that linked picture looks nothing like an iPhone or iPad...FAIL!

  91. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Grudge2012 · · Score: 0

    PS: the design patent is also for an "Electronic device" - how are your picture frames electronic?

  92. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Grudge2012 · · Score: 0

    A simple google image search for "digital picture frame rounded corners" yeilded this product on page one.

    oh look. A digital picture frame.

    Yeah, and only 1 year after the iPad - amazing. Yeah, obviously prior art. Case closed.

  93. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh great. You mean I paid $600 for a cheap whiteboard instead of an iPad? Well, I guess that explains those dry erase markers that came with it. That's the last time I buy electronics from a shady guy in an alley.

  94. What in the design is electronic? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The design is for the form of the product, not its mechanisation. That mechanisation would have to be a standard patent on the mechanism employed.

    If you make a black plastic copy from resin of the iPad it has EXACTLY the same design. But it isn't electronic. However, the form isn't "electronic" for the ipad either, unless it requires coronal discharge as part of the design feature.

    1. Re:What in the design is electronic? by Deorus · · Score: 1

      If you make a black plastic copy from resin of the iPad it has EXACTLY the same design. But it isn't electronic. However, the form isn't "electronic" for the ipad either, unless it requires coronal discharge as part of the design feature.

      The designs covers a electronic appliances explicitly. That's already been mentioned 3 times.

    2. Re:What in the design is electronic? by wierd_w · · Score: 1

      That is not how design patents work.

      Please read the information freely available from the USPTO.

      A device must be sufficiently novel from existing products of similar appearance (and need not be analogous in function!) That an "average observer" could not be said to conclude that the design is a derivation of existing forms.

      I pointed out how there were existing forms, and how the derivation could have occured.

      The number of times you state an incorrect declaration does not alter the state of its factuality. You could "point this out" millions of times, it still won't make the USPTO's requirements change to suit your opinion.

  95. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Compaqt · · Score: 1

    He was trying to demonstrate that the design concepts came from real objects, which have been around basically forever (thousands of years).

    The very word "tablet" shows where the design idea came from: actual tablets.

    As for the "framing" effect caused by the plastic around the screen of the tablet, he showed how plastic ... frames have the same exact form factor.

    If Apple can copy the form factor of plastic frames, why can't Samsung?

    --
    I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog
  96. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by somersault · · Score: 1

    What point are you trying to make with all this talk of fairness and previous rulings, if not a possible bias? You didn't need to say the actual word, it was obvious what you were implying.

    Does it not make sense to use a judge who knows the situation quite well? I've seen that done in other high profile cases without anyone complaining..

    I don't really have an opinion either way, as I haven't been following the case, but you seem to be in quite the trolling mood today!

    --
    which is totally what she said
  97. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    There is no point of continue this discussion when they keep on putting words in my mouth, and when I pointed out the obvious to them, they came back with stuffs like "implied", "interpret", "inferred", and when I pointed to them that there was no such thing in what I had said, they retort in every which way they can, including the use of verbal diarrhea

    When you question fairness (impartiality), you imply the possibility of the existence of bias (partiality). Failing to understand this (as you have already demonstrated to be incapable of) means you are a retard. Verbal abuse should play no role in the outcome of a logical debate; if you're letting that dissuade you, then you are unfit for such a debate. Please keep up and leave the bullshit at the door, I'm not done with you het.

  98. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Inferior to what exactly? The point was that Apple were hardly the first on the block with a touch interface. They weren't even first on the block with gridded launchers.

  99. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Compaqt · · Score: 1

    Great point, hadn't considered this before; this should be added to the Master List of Apple Sucks.

    --
    I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog
  100. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    If Apple can copy the form factor of plastic frames, why can't Samsung?

    Because there already was a product in the market with that appearance. Pretty simple, really. And I'm not saying I agree with the deduction that led you to this conclusion, only that even if the patents are found to be invalid, Samsung is still infringing, so your argument is moot.

  101. Why must the juries be a clean slate? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If the jury has to decide who is right and one relies on evidence that pi = 3 and the other relies on evidence that pi = 4, if I know pi = 3.142.... then NEITHER IS RIGHT. But if I don't know that Pi is an irrational number, I will be deciding one or the other is right. Whichever one chosen is wrong.

    Similarly for the judge.

  102. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    That's perfectly fair and fine, both sides can do the same.

  103. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Compaqt · · Score: 1

    That was called Google Desktop Search.

    --
    I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on the Internet. Blog
  104. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by ProfBooty · · Score: 1

    There is a difference between design and utility patents.

    Utility are articles of manufacture, apparatuses, processes, methods, computer readable mediums.

    Designs, are, well, designs.

    --
    Bring back the old version of slashdot.
  105. Re:Why? by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

    Inferior to the iPhone, of course. There were touch screens before the iPhone, but everyone hated them and they were a hassle to use. That's why so many said "I could never use an on-screen keyboard" when the iPhone came out. My, how the times have changed. Now I hear that it was an "inevitable" design and that the industry was already "converging" on the design. In 2007, everyone was telling me the iPhone was a poor design that would never take off because it lacked a physical keyboard. Now, everyone seems to think it's a common sense design and, in fact, there's no other way to build a phone!

  106. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why are you so terrible at replying to the post to which you're responding?

  107. Re:Why? by bhagwad · · Score: 1

    It was stylus based. And I was doing everything with it that I use a modern smartphone for. Certainly more than is possible with an iPhone given the locked down nature of iOS.

  108. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's worth taking a look at the judge's employment history too. She's done legal work for Apple through her previous employer also.

  109. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by bws111 · · Score: 1

    We are talking about design patents. The only thing that matters in a design patent is how something looks. There is no patent for 'rounded corners' or even 'flat rectangle with rounded corners'. That picture frame looks NOTHING like the patent (D554809) describes.

    Ways in which it is different:

    The front is not flat (the 'metal' frame is clearly raised off the glass)
    The back is not flat (the description says the frame is 2.55cm thick, clearly the glass edges are not)
    The edges of the back are not curved
    There are no power or data connectors on the edges (they must be in the back)
    An iPad does not stand up by itself

  110. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Deorus · · Score: 1

    Why are you so terrible at replying to the post to which you're responding?

    Because I read at -1 with expanded comments and Slashdot imposes a nesting cap that makes it extremely hard to figure out who is replying to what after a certain point. That cap is also the reason why I usually quote everything here.

  111. ahem....samsung before/after iphone by Chirs · · Score: 1
    1. Re:ahem....samsung before/after iphone by PortHaven · · Score: 1

      Thanks, I think you just confirmed for me Apple has no real case outside of a messed up judicial/legal system.

  112. Re:Why? by mosb1000 · · Score: 1

    That's nice, but it doesn't refute my claim at all.

  113. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

    If you can show that there's ACTUAL value to your statement that plastic picture frames are prior art to a DESIGN patent for the iPhone, I'll retract my statement calling you an idiot. But given that you made that statement, I'm pretty sure you have no idea what design or a design patent actually is.

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  114. Re:Hey fuckerlords by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's worse than that, at a point I was getting around 15 mod points every 2 to 12 hrs. I was getting more than I'd ever know what to do with. I don't know if this was ever a bug or intentional but effectively yes, in this scenario if it still occurs a single user or two could shut down entire lines of discussion.

    The whole system would work better if more people get less mod points, but some years ago I believe they moved to a system of less people getting more - an effectively unlimited amount of mod points.

  115. Re:Why? by bhagwad · · Score: 1

    Your claim was that it wasn't like an iPhone. I just showed you it was not only like an iPhone, but better in many ways.

  116. Re:Why? by mosb1000 · · Score: 0

    An OS that is stylus based is not touch based and not similar to a touch based OS. You basically used the stylus as a mouse. That's nice that you think it was better, I'm sure you're still using your "superior" phone today.

  117. Re:Why? by bhagwad · · Score: 2

    Keep in mind that the current lawsuit is about "form factor" and not touch based devices. So your point is moot. Start talking about rounded rectangles instead and we can go from there.

    I have no hesitation in acknowledging that Apple popularized touch based devices. But that doesn't mean it invented them. Guess what you need to validly patent something? Yup.

  118. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_patent#Comparison_to_trademark_and_trade_dress

    Design patents are only granted if the design is novel and not obvious for all items,[8] even those of different utility than the patented object. An actual shield of a given shape, for example, can be cited as prior art against a design patent on a computer icon with a shield shape. The validity of design patents is not affected by whether or not the design is commercialized.

    I'm pretty sure _you_ have no idea what a design patent actually is.

  119. jury trial? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i thought jury trial in U.S. had 12, not 10 jurors? is the number 10 a misprint? or i'm confused? lol and how come the the green text says "Apple v. Samsung", not Apple vs. Samsung like in the video games? i guess americans write stuff differently.

  120. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by zieroh · · Score: 1

    Seriously, you're being an ass.

    --
    People who say "sheeple" have about as much sophistication as an AOL user, and in fact are probably actually AOL users.
  121. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by zieroh · · Score: 1

    Then clearly you do not understand the function of a design patent. That's fairly typical for slashdot users, though, who all think they are legal experts.

    --
    People who say "sheeple" have about as much sophistication as an AOL user, and in fact are probably actually AOL users.
  122. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by zieroh · · Score: 1

    I would argue that apple's design patent is invalid.

    Here is why, and it has nothing to do with opinion of apple:

    Further proof that slashdot users are completely incapable of understanding patents. Which is odd, considering that slashdot users aren't actually stupid.

    --
    People who say "sheeple" have about as much sophistication as an AOL user, and in fact are probably actually AOL users.
  123. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by zieroh · · Score: 1

    Do try to read the whole post.

    I read the whole post. And despite the fact that I am not a lawyer, I know enough about patents to know that you do not. Despite Samsung's proclamations that this case is about a rectangle, it is not. Design patents are quite a bit more specific than that. Further, Apple is not claiming to have "invented the rectangle" (as you assert) because that's not what design patents do.

    Basically, you've bought into Samsung's not-very-clever propaganda about this case. I'm kind of surprised that smart people fell for that, actually.

    --
    People who say "sheeple" have about as much sophistication as an AOL user, and in fact are probably actually AOL users.
  124. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by zieroh · · Score: 1

    I guess you can add "ad hominem" to your list of used logical fallacies.

    Do you have a specific counter argument that is not also a verbal slur to bring to the table, or is this debate over?

    Honestly, the argument was over when you presented logic that was completely irrelevant and showed a marked lack of understanding of what design patents do.

    And that, sir, is most assuredly not an ad hominem attack. You simply do not have any idea what you're talking about.

    --
    People who say "sheeple" have about as much sophistication as an AOL user, and in fact are probably actually AOL users.
  125. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by zieroh · · Score: 1

    For your own sake, please do some research on what design patents do before continuing this line of attack. You are making yourself look extremely foolish by trying to point out prior art in a way that isn't actually relevant to the discussion of design patents.

    --
    People who say "sheeple" have about as much sophistication as an AOL user, and in fact are probably actually AOL users.
  126. Re:Why? by man_the_king · · Score: 2

    The iMac was released in 1998, so a phone from 2004 isn't prior art.

    What does the iMac, a Desktop Computer, released in 1998 (iMac in 1998) have to do with Pocket PC Phones released in 2004? IMHO you are wrong, it is prior art.

    These type of devices never took off because they were hacked together and ran an OS that was designed for a mouse.

    And who cares whether the devices never took off? The fact remains that they existed well BEFORE the iPhone.

    And the design looks nothing like an iPhone.

    These may not look completely like an iPhone, but they were rectangular, with some curved edges (especially if you consider the fact that antenna now usually lies within the phone, not outside as used to happen then because of technology limitations for smartphones), which Apple is claiming a design patent on.

  127. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by BlackSnake112 · · Score: 1

    All the rounded corner, rectangular screens with a bezel on LCD monitors and laptops are prior art for the Ipad and iphone.

    Who ever in the patent office that granted that patent is either being paid off or a complete moron. Look at the early tablet computers. Those laptops where the screen flipped around and folded back on to the keyboard. This gave you a touchscreen. They were clunky. They were not that fast. But those touchscreen/tablet laptops were prior art for the ipad. And those had rectangular rounded corner screens. Another example is the picture frames. These were not computers per say but a display. You could no do anything but display a bunch of your digital pictures, but those devices also predated the ipad.

    Those are a few examples of prior art in the electronic field. The patent office people completely missed them. Maybe the patent office people only look for other patents not things in the world for prior art?

  128. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Kielistic · · Score: 1

    Please point out where Apple's patent describes anything but a rectangle.

  129. Re:Why? by pac109 · · Score: 1

    The iPhone runs a touch based shell. It was an inevitable design, and it predated the iPhone. Hence Apple didn't invent touch based interfaces for phones with rounded rectangles. Got it?

  130. Please don't by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    From the summary
    "While most Slashdot readers are familiar with many of the facts of the case and the law..."
    Don't make me laugh so fucking hard, I'm pretending to work here!

  131. Sweat of the Brow by mdmkolbe · · Score: 1

    The legal principal you are describing is called "Sweat of the Brow". The supreme court rejected that doctrine in "Feist v. Rural". (Though that was a copyright case not a patent case, the same reasoning applies.)

  132. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A little racism there. What does race have to play into it?

    And then to go ahead to expound on your racist stereotyping, you have to interject some made up things about Korean captains. Kind of interesting that Korean airlines have some of the best reputation in the business for their service and hospitality. Koreans may be very stubborn, but they are very hard working individuals, very educated and very passionate about things they care about. I am not Korean but I am pleased to have many Koreans as friends.

    So, that means that all the other companies that have rounded corner rectangular tablets/phones are not copies? Seriously? The only reason that Apple decided to target Samsung is that they were losing to Samsung in the marketplace and the only way they could compete was in court for a really dumb design patent.

    As others have mentioned, the patent is dumb. Sketch drawing tablets have rounded corners on a rectangular surface, you know the ones for children that are usually letter sized using a dry erase pen to sketch with? Are those now copies, it is a dumb patent and to use it to stifle competition is completely against what it was created to do. And that is what the courts should be looking at and trying to prevent.

    To think that patents will probably be noted in history as being a major bottleneck in helping to advance the computer age. Without all of these stupid patents and patent lawsuits, the technological landscape would be a lot different and a lot nicer...sigh.

  133. Re:Any insight into what "nonfunctional aspects" m by docmordin · · Score: 1

    The answer to your question is that design patents cover articles that are "primarily ornamental", which I elaborate upon below. (Your item (b) is the closest to this. However, it is important to point out that, unless specifically stated, design patents cover all potential colorations of an article.)

    An ornamental feature or design has been defined as one which was “created for the purpose of ornamenting” and cannot be the result or “merely a by-product” of functional or mechanical considerations. (In re Carletti, 328 F.2d 1020, 140 USPQ 653, 654 (CCPA 1964); Blisscraft of Hollywood v. United Plastic Co., 189 F. Supp. 333, 337, 127 USPQ 452, 454 (S.D.N.Y. 1960), aff’d, 294 F.2d 694, 131 USPQ 55 (2d Cir. 1961)) It is clear that the ornamentality of the article must be the result of a conscious act by the inventor, as 35 U.S.C. 171 requires that a patent for a design be given only to “whoever invents any new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture.” Therefore, for a design to be ornamental within the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 171, it must be “created for the purpose of ornamenting.” (In re Carletti, 328 F.2d 1020, 1022, 140 USPQ 653, 654 (CCPA 1964))

    To be patentable, a design must be “primarily ornamental.” “In determining whether a design is primarily functional or primarily ornamental the claimed design is viewed in its entirety, for the ultimate question is not the functional or decorative aspect of each separate feature, but the overall appearance of the article, in determining whether the claimed design is dictated by the utilitarian purpose of the article.” (L. A. Gear Inc. v. Thom McAn Shoe Co., 988 F.2d 1117, 1123, 25 USPQ2d 1913, 1917 (Fed. Cir. 1993)) The court in Norco Products, Inc. v. Mecca Development, Inc., 617 F.Supp. 1079, 1080, 227 USPQ 724, 725 (D. Conn. 1985), held that a “primarily functional invention is not patentable” as a design.

    A determination of ornamentality is not a quantitative analysis based on the size of the ornamental feature or features but rather a determination based on their ornamental contribution to the design as a whole.

    While ornamentality must be based on the entire design, “[i]n determining whether a design is primarily functional, the purposes of the particular elements of the design necessarily must be considered.” (Power Controls Corp. v. Hybrinetics, Inc., 806 F.2d 234, 240, 231 USPQ 774, 778 (Fed. Cir. 1986)) The court in Smith v. M & B Sales & Manufacturing, 13 USPQ2d 2002, 2004 (N. D. Cal. 1990), states that if “significant decisions about how to put it [the item] together and present it in the marketplace were informed by primarily ornamental considerations”, this information may establish the ornamentality of a design.

    “However, a distinction exists between the functionality of an article or features thereof and the functionality of the particular design of such article or features thereof that perform a function.” (Avia Group International Inc. v. L. A. Gear California Inc., 853 F.2d 1557, 1563, 7 USPQ2d 1548, 1553 (Fed. Cir. 1988)) The distinction must be maintained between the ornamental design and the article in which the design is embodied. The design for the article cannot be assumed to lack ornamentality merely because the article of manufacture would seem to be primarily functional.

  134. Re:Any insight into what "nonfunctional aspects" m by Chuck+Chunder · · Score: 1

    Thank you for taking the time to answer so thoroughly, it is much appreciated and much clearer to me now.

    --
    Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
  135. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 1

    I have seen you post repeatedly on this, claiming that a design patent requires specific type of prior art, of a specific subclass in order to be invalidated. This is simply false.

    From the USPTO.

    35 U.S.C. 172 Right of priority. The right of priority provided for by subsections (a) through (d) of section 119 of this title and the time specified in section 102(d) shall be six months in the case of designs. The right of priority provided for by section 119(e) of this title shall not apply to designs. The standard for determining novelty under 35 U.S.C. 102 was set forth by the court in In re Bartlett, 300 F.2d 942, 133 USPQ 204 (CCPA 1962). "The degree of difference [from the prior art] required to establish novelty occurs when the average observer takes the new design for a different, and not a modified, already-existing design." 300 F.2d at 943, 133 USPQ at 205 (quoting Shoemaker, PatentsFor Designs, page 76). In design patent applications, the factual inquiry in determining anticipation over a prior art reference is the sameas in utility patent applications. That is, the reference "must be identical in all material respects." Hupp v. Siroflex of America Inc., 122 F.3d 1456, 43 USPQ2d 1887 (Fed. Cir. 1997). The "average observer" test does not require that the claimed design and the prior art be from analogous arts when evaluating novelty. In re Glavas, 230 F.2d 447, 450, 109 USPQ 50, 52 (CCPA 1956). Insofar as the "average observer" under 35 U.S.C. 102 is not charged with knowledge of any art, the issue of analogousness of prior art need not be raised. This distinguishes 35 U.S.C. 102 from 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which requires determination of whether the claimed design would have been obvious to "a person of ordinary skill in the art." When a claim is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 as being unpatentableover prior art, those features of the design which are functional and/or hidden during end use may not be relied upon to support patentability. In re Cornwall, 230 F.2d 447, 109 USPQ 57 (CCPA 1956); Jones v. Progress Ind. Inc., 119 USPQ 92 (D. R.I. 1958). Further, in a rejection of a claim under 35 U.S.C. 102, mere differences in functional considerations do not negatea finding of anticipation when determining design patentability. Black & Decker, Inc. v. Pittway Corp., 636 F.2d 1193, 231 USPQ 252 (N.D. Ill. 1986).

    It is not necessary for the examiner to cite or apply prior art to show that functional and/or hidden features are old in the art as long as the examiner has properly relied on evidence to support the prima facie lack of ornamentality of these individual features. If applicant wishes to rely on functional or hidden features as a basis for patentability, the same standard for establishing ornamentality under 35 U.S.C. 171 must be applied before these features can be given any patentable weight. See MPEP Â 1504.01(c). In evaluating a statutory bar based on 35 U.S.C. 102(b), the experimental use exception to a statutory bar for public use or sale (see MPEP Â 2133.03(e)) does not usually apply for design patents. See In re Mann, 861 F.2d 1581, 8 USPQ2d 2030 (Fed. Cir. 1988). However, Tone Brothers, Inc. v. Sysco Corp., 28 F.3d 1192, 1200, 31 USPQ2d 1321, 1326 (Fed. Cir. 1994) held that "experimentation directed to functional features of a product also containing an ornamental design may negate what otherwise would be considered a public use within the meaning of section 102(b)." See MPEP Â 2133.03(e)(6). Registration of a design abroad is considered to be equivalent to patenting under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) and 35 U.S.C. 102(d), whether or not the foreign grant is published. (See Ex parte Lancaster, 151 USPQ 713 (Bd. App. 1965); Ex parte Marinissen, 155 USPQ 528 (Bd. App. 1966); Appeal No. 239-48, Decided April 30, 1965, 151 USPQ 711, (Bd. App. 1965); Ex parte Appeal decided September 3, 1968, 866 O.G. 16 (Bd. App. 1966). The basis of this practice is that if the foreign applicant has received the protection offered in the foreign country, no matter what the protection is call

  136. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Daniel+Phillips · · Score: 1

    What point are you trying to make with all this talk of fairness and previous rulings, if not a possible bias? You didn't need to say the actual word, it was obvious what you were implying.

    I will say it: Lucy Koh gives the appearance of bias, if not outright corruption, in favor of Apple.

    --
    Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
  137. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 2

    I find it amusing that you would say that, given that established caselaw and precident for determining applicability for protection and the grounds for application rejection more closely parallel GP's view than yours, according to the cases cited by the USPTO concerning the applicability and enforcement of design patents.

    For reference, what exactly *DO* you think design patents are for?

    The intended enforcement class is for a completely novel physical shape or image feature, which is not manifest in *any* other product, and which is not considered to be a derivative of other existing forms by an "average observer", which has "little or no prior knowledge of the art."

    At least according to the USPTO anyway.

    ___
    The standard for determining novelty under 35 U.S.C. 102 was set forth by the court in In re Bartlett, 300 F USPQ 204 (CCPA 1962). "The degree of difference [from the prior art] required to establish novelty occurs w average observer takes the new design for a different, and not a modified, already-existing design." 300 F.2 133 USPQ at 205 (quoting Shoemaker, PatentsFor Designs, page 76). In design patent applications, the fact in determining anticipation over a prior art reference is the sameas in utility patent applications. That is, th "must be identical in all material respects." Hupp v. Siroflex of America Inc., 122 F.3d 1456, 43 USPQ2d 188 1997). The "average observer" test does not require that the claimed design and the prior art be from analogous a evaluating novelty. In re Glavas, 230 F.2d 447, 450, 109 USPQ 50, 52 (CCPA 1956). Insofar as the "average o under 35 U.S.C. 102 is not charged with knowledge of any art, the issue of analogousness of prior art need raised. This distinguishes 35 U.S.C. 102 from 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which requires determination of whether the design would have been obvious to "a person of ordinary skill in the art."
    ____

  138. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 1

    No, it certainly is not an ad hominem. It is merely false.

    The USPTO itself weighs in, stating that prior art need not belong to "analogous items".

    I have pointed this out twice now, but the third time's the charm.

    The standard for determining novelty under 35 U.S.C. 102 was set forth by the court in In re Bartlett, 300 F USPQ 204 (CCPA 1962). "The degree of difference [from the prior art] required to establish novelty occurs w average observer takes the new design for a different, and not a modified, already-existing design." 300 F.2 133 USPQ at 205 (quoting Shoemaker, PatentsFor Designs, page 76). In design patent applications, the fact in determining anticipation over a prior art reference is the sameas in utility patent applications. That is, th "must be identical in all material respects." Hupp v. Siroflex of America Inc., 122 F.3d 1456, 43 USPQ2d 188 1997). The "average observer" test does not require that the claimed design and the prior art be from analogous a evaluating novelty. In re Glavas, 230 F.2d 447, 450, 109 USPQ 50, 52 (CCPA 1956). Insofar as the "average o under 35 U.S.C. 102 is not charged with knowledge of any art, the issue of analogousness of prior art need raised. This distinguishes 35 U.S.C. 102 from 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which requires determination of whether the design would have been obvious to "a person of ordinary skill in the art.

  139. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 2

    Ask and you shall receive.

    -----
    The standard for determining novelty under 35 U.S.C. 102 was set forth by the court in In re Bartlett, 300 F USPQ 204 (CCPA 1962). "The degree of difference [from the prior art] required to establish novelty occurs when the average observer takes the new design for a different, and not a modified, already-existing design." 300 F.2 133 USPQ at 205 (quoting Shoemaker, PatentsFor Designs, page 76). In design patent applications, the fact in determining anticipation over a prior art reference is the sameas in utility patent applications. That is, the reference "must be identical in all material respects." Hupp v. Siroflex of America Inc., 122 F.3d 1456, 43 USPQ2d 188 1997).

    The "average observer" test does not require that the claimed design and the prior art be from analogous arts whe evaluating novelty. In re Glavas, 230 F.2d 447, 450, 109 USPQ 50, 52 (CCPA 1956). Insofar as the "average observer" under 35 U.S.C. 102 is not charged with knowledge of any art, the issue of analogousness of prior art need not be raised. This distinguishes 35 U.S.C. 102 from 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which requires determination of whether the design would have been obvious to "a person of ordinary skill in the art."

  140. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by zieroh · · Score: 1

    You have established that you know how to quote the rules of prior art for design patents. You have not, however, demonstrated that you understand what it actually says. The assertion that Apple copied a picture frame is (and therefore the patent is invalid) is so laughable that it's really pointless to keep arguing with you. You won't understand because you refuse to.

    And that's called willful ignorance.

    --
    People who say "sheeple" have about as much sophistication as an AOL user, and in fact are probably actually AOL users.
  141. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by somersault · · Score: 1

    Do you even know what "bias" means? It essentially means "not being fair". So you are worried she might be biased. Nobody is putting words into your mouth by mentioning the word bias - they are simply summarising your point of view with more succinct words..

    --
    which is totally what she said
  142. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by NatasRevol · · Score: 1

    I don't see how you could say from this that a plastic picture frame is prior art for an iPhone.

    Thus, you're still an idiot.

    --
    There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
  143. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 1

    (Laughter)

    Look, the rules clearly point out that the design patent is for the *aesthetic design*, and not for any functional part of the object. It covers ONLY THE APPEARANCE.

    This has been shown, linked to, and quoted to you several times now.

    The same rules say that prior art for such an appearance does *NOT* need to be analogous to the object for which the design patent is being applied for.

    Those same rules openly state that to be applicable for protection, the design *MUST* be wholly original, and cannot be said to be a derivation or adaptation of *ANY PREVIOUS DESIGN*, as determined by ordinary people.

    I pointed out that the design in question is a clear derivation from the design of a plethora of prior products that are more than 1 year older than the iPad and iPhone. That makes the objects prior art under the definitions supplied by the USPTO.

    Now, since you insist that I am unable to understand what I am reading, despite being a native english speaker, and the not too difficult wording of the USPTO rules, PLEASE, By *all means*,

    Educate me.

  144. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by wierd_w · · Score: 1

    1) the design patent covers only the appearance of an object. No functional component or feature can be included. (Eg, it being an electronic device. That relates to function, not appearance.)

    2) the appearance of an object seeking protection must not be a derivation of any other object design.

    3) the type of object (analogousness) is inconsequential when making this determination, because the type of object is related to purpose, and not appearance. (See 1). This is why, in the words of the USPTO, it "need not apply."

    I pointed out that the shape of the ipad and other idevices, and the design aesthetics have been in active use for decades prior to apple's used of that design in a tablet product. Plastic picture frames being a poignant example.

    That I was able to read, understand, and make this determination defacto shows that I am not an idiot.

    Merriam webster defines an idiot as follows:

    Main Entry: idÂiÂot
    Pronunciation: \Ëi-dÄ"-É(TM)t\
    Function: noun
    Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ydiote, from Latin idiota ignorant person, from Greek idiÅtÄ"s one in a private station, layman, ignorant person, from idios one's own, private; akin to Latin suus one's own â" more at suicide
    Date: 14th century
    1usually offensive : a person affected with extreme mental retardation
    2 : a foolish or stupid person
    â" idiot adjective

    And foolish, as per def #2 as:

    Main Entry: foolÂish
    Pronunciation: \Ëfü-lish\
    Function: adjective
    Date: 13th century
    1 : lacking in sense, judgment, or discretion
    2 a : absurd, ridiculous b : marked by a loss of composure : nonplussed
    3 : insignificant, trifling
    synonyms see simple
    â" foolÂishÂly adverb

    Given that I have not lost either my composure, used the rules for prior art incorrectly, incorrectly ascribed to design patents what is covered by trade dress and functional patents, nor resorted to petty name-calling and blatant illogical utterances, I must conclude that your assessment is in error.

    Unless you can show specifically how my accusation is faulted, other than a simple "I don't agree, and you are stupid for thinking that" without any qualifications, I fail to see how I should in any way retract my statement, nor see any virtue whatsoever in your contrary verbage, given that it does not contain any form of rational argument nor contrary evidence; only subjective opinion, which is in direct contradiction with established case law, as evidenced by the supplied rules.

    Since I have given you ample opportunity to demonstrate the profound intellect and store of knowledge you have been conflating yourself to posess, and have consistently failed to do so at every turn, I must conclude that you do not in fact posess such knowledge, and are simply being contrarian out of personal preference toward reality.

    This falls victim to webster's definition of foolish, and hilariously enough, their definition of idiot by associsiation.

    This would indicate that you are both a fool, and an idiot as well as a hipocrite, as demonstrated by your behavior and verbage.

    Unless you supply a real, vettable contradictory piece of evidence to disqualify the picture frame prior art, I will ignore any further specious and unsupportable rhetoric you might muster, since you have clearly demonstrated the inferiority of your position.

  145. Re:Judge Lucy Koh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Except you can not confuse a totally different product with an iPad, but you can confuse a tablet with an iPad if it shares a similar design.

    How dense would someone have to be to confuse an iPad with a Galaxy10? It says right on the box which one it is!!!