
Recently released public versions of legal briefs from July’s court case which sought a ban of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 revealed that Apple illustrated that the design of the iPad and iPhone were based on aesthetics. Apple even went as far as giving Samsung a list of tweaks it could make to differentiate their products.
In this same court case, Samsung argued that the patents Apple was using against the Galaxy Tab were based on functionality and therefore were required by all smartphones and tablets as part of a utilitarian design. The company claimed it had no choice when using the design elements in question, but Apple continued to argue that there were other options available and that Samsung purposely violated the standing patents. To prove its point, the Cupertino giant generated a list of possible design alternatives (this is where the laughing can commence):
• A front surface that is not black.
• A shape that is not rectangular.
• No rounded corners.
• A front surface that is not flat.
• Varying Bezel size.
• A device that is not thin.
• A cluttered appearance
• A shape that is not rectangular.
• No rounded corners.
• A front surface that is not flat.
• Varying Bezel size.
• A device that is not thin.
• A cluttered appearance

It’s always interesting to see the constant fight between Apple and Samsung, whether it is in the court room or in advertisements. So far it seems that Apple has the upper hand but that may change if the company doesn’t stay on top of its game. Samsung continues to fight back not only in the patent war but with advertising campaigns that bash Apple and its products as well.
On a different note, I do admit, some of the design alternatives recommended by Apple are pretty absurd. The thought of even recommending things such as “A cluttered appearance” or “A device that is not thin” seems like a big joke to me.
Source: The Verge
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