Apple, Samsung Dispute Likely To Turn On 1994 Knight-Ridder Tablet(no iPad design patent?)

paidContent ^ | 12/01/11 | Jeff Roberts

[TigerLikesRooster]

Apple, Samsung Dispute Likely To Turn On 1994 Knight-Ridder Tablet

Jeff Roberts

A leading design patent expert predicts that Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) will be unable to stop Samsung from selling its Galaxy tablet in the United States in the near future, and says the press has misunderstood a dramatic moment in the patent trial taking place between the tech giants. Court filings unsealed this week in California suggest he is right.

Recall that, in October, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh waved two tablets in the air and asked Samsung’s attorney if he could tell which was the Galaxy and which was the iPad. The attorney replied “not at this distance, your Honor.” News agencies soon suggested the episode meant Apple had gained the upper hand in its global tablet fight with Samsung which it has accused of “slavishly copying” its designs.

SEE ALSO: Aussie Court Gives Samsung Galaxy Tab The All-Clear But Is It Too Late?

It turns out the tablet-waving episode may not matter after all. According to Christopher V. Carani, who is chair of the American Bar Association’s Design Rights committee, the crucial moment at the hearing came later when Judge Koh referred to a Knight-Ridder tablet from 1994 and remarked “I think that invalidates” the Apple patent. He set out his thoughts in an article (embedded below) that is circulating widely among intellectual property lawyers:

[TigerLikesRooster]

This gets interesting.

[Ronin]

I might have to take a better look at the Galaxy. It’s selling well in Japan. Advertisements are up all over the place.

I’d prefer an iPad, but if the cost difference is significant...

[TigerLikesRooster]

Let me know if you get a hand on it. I like to hear about comparison between the two.

[An.American.Expatriate]

I like mine - can’t compare it though as I have never used the iPad ... long battery life - lots of apps, good connectivity, nice camera (2x), light weight ...

[NavVet]

The guy at Best Buy gave me a bunch of reasons to by the Galaxy Tab over the I-Pad. I took his advice and have been very happy with the decision.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Thanks for the info. My son wants the Blackberry tablet for Christmas.

I am posting this from my iPad and I love it! But I’m not willing to spend 6 to 7 hundred for my kid, since he wants other things .

[Erik Latranyi]

I find this all ridiculous as the shape of a box cannot be intellectual property that is allocated to one company.

The shape of the iPad was predated by many similar design ideas, including every laptop screen (take the keyboard off and many laptop screens use the same shape).

This is a blatant attempt by Apple to use legal muscle against competitors....a waste of its profits that could be used for more product development.

[dinodino]

I have two first-generation iPads and a Samsung 10.1”. I don’t have a second-generation iPad but I am familiar enough with it to make the comparison. Overall, I like the Samsung tablet, and I prefer its form factor and aspect ratio to the iPad. Android is a much more open platform than iOS, but the interface is not as smooth or as slick as iOS, and the applications available through the Android app store don’t seem to be as good quality as those available on the Apple app store.

I guess if viewing Flash pages or ripping your own video content and managing it yourself are important to you, then the Samsung would win.

[PissAndVinegar]

There is also this:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/apple-ipad-samsung-galaxy-stanley-kubrick-showed-tablet/story?id=14387499

A tablet PC is nothing new, just wrapping it in a pretty skin is..

[Southern Magnolia]

Haven’t seen a Samsung Galaxy yet, but it seems to have connectivity via a USB port. That alone puts it ahead of the IPad if I can hook it directly to a computer rather than having to email everything to it.

[for-q-clinton]

Only bad thing with the galaxy is android. Wosrt OS ever in a consumer focused device.

[tophat9000]

But this is Apples SOP for the ever..copy from others..then say they invented it..then sue everybody....the dirty little secrets is Apple is the biggest bunch of prick out there

[tophat9000]

But this is Apples SOP forever..copy from others..then say they invented it..then sue everybody....the dirty little secrets is Apple is the biggest bunch of prick out there

[NavVet]

I don’t get to use the tablet much, but I like android on my phone.

[dinodino]

You don’t have to mail everything to the iPad...you could, for example, install Dropbox.

[for-q-clinton]

http://aka.ms/wpdemo

Check out that link from your phone. I guess I’m spoiled and can never go back to an android device.

[Wonder Warthog]

"This is a blatant attempt by Apple to use legal muscle against competitors....a waste of its profits that could be used for more product development."

Yeah, but it is the way Apple has always done things.