Apple sues Samsung over Galaxy S' "similarities" to iPhone

[Kabob]

Taken from Phandroid

When I first compiled my review of the Samsung Galaxy S last summer, one of my minor gripes with the device was it’s overwhelming resemblance to the iPhone. The silhouette of the device, it’s singular “home” button foregoing Android’s typical four, and a user interface looking a bit too Apple-inspired made the device feel like a knockoff in some ways. Don’t think Apple didn’t take notice. In a lawsuit filed April 15th, Apple is suing Samsung over “slavishly” copying the look and feel of the iPhone and iPad in their Galaxy lineup of Android devices.

Apple representative Kristing Huguet called the similarities between Galaxy devices and those using iOS “blatant,” while Samsung has yet to comment. This is not your typical patent lawsuit hinging on a small aspect or feature a phone offers. The Galaxy S 4G, Epic 4G, Galaxy Tab, and even the Nexus S are named. If Apple comes out on top, the implications could be big for Samsung, not to mention the payout Steve Jobs and company will surely demand.

I find this particularly hilarious considering how many components Apple buys from them. Can you say $5.7 Billion last year?

Aside from Apple’s “intellectual property,” what else is at stake in the infringement suit recently filed by the Cupertino company against Samsung? $5.7 billion worth of business between the companies, the reported amount Apple spent on buying components from the Korean manufacturer for use in their various products. We’re talking everything from processors and RAM to flash storage and displays. In fact, Apple is said to be Sammy’s second largest client, following behind Sony. It would seem apparent that the two companies depend greatly on each other’s business.

Samsung has come out saying the company has “no choice but [to] respond strongly.” Word is the makers of the Galaxy line of Android products, the very lineup of phones and tablets at the center of the lawsuit, is gearing up to file a countersuit alleging that Apple is infringing on several of Samsung’s patents. If you didn’t think this one would get messy, you better think again.

Heck, didn't Samsung help design the original iPhone?

 

[Fire&Blood]

Too funny. A while ago a friend of mine bought the Samsung F700. I didn't like the phone's keyboard and look. Eventually he returned it because of buggy software. However, few months later the iphone was launched and the first image of the iphone reminded me of the F700. Go figure.

I'm not allowed to post attachments but google the image and you'll see the resemblance.

I think the lawsuit will be dismissed but I am intrigued by it's timing.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

I find this particularly hilarious considering how many components Apple buys from them. Can you say $5.7 Billion?

Well, that doesn't mean they are not supposed to protect their patents.

Heck, didn't Samsung help design the original iPhone?

I highly doubt this.

 

[Anubis]

Apple spent over 5 billion on samsung parts last year LOL

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/19/apple-spent-nearly-5-7b-on-samsung-parts-in-2010-faces-strong/

 

[AstroManLuca]

I remember noticing the resemblance in the original Galaxy S i9000 promotional images. Doesn't help that Samsung had an image of the iOS-like app list instead of the typical Android home screen in all of their images. TouchWiz's app list is very similar to iOS, with horizontally oriented pages and a dot indicator along the top.

My Epic doesn't look anything like an iPhone though.

 

[Kabob]

Apple spent over 5 billion on samsung parts last year LOL

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/19/apple-spent-nearly-5-7b-on-samsung-parts-in-2010-faces-strong/

Umm, did you read the OP?

 

[Cuda1447]

So iphone has the rights to... square phones, horizontal app drawers, dots representing screens, what else? Silver bezels? I mean, seriously? Yea, the phones look similar. But honestly, most smart phones all look pretty similar. There is only so much you can do to a phone to make it different. WTF do you want, triangle shaped rainbow colored phones with hieroglyphics representing screen #'s?

 

[Deeko]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2061151

Note the last line of the OP....might as well call me Nostradeeko.

Anyway, I still think its a pretty silly lawsuit, but hey, we'll see.

 

[theeedude]

Samsung is just going to roll the lawsuit costs into component pricing.

 

[Glitchny]

Well, that doesn't mean they are not supposed to protect their patents.



I highly doubt this.

IIRC samsung helped design both the A4 and A5 chips.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

IIRC samsung helped design both the A4 and A5 chips.

That was probably contracted out. What they're saying is that Samsung (the Mobile division) copied the "look and feel" of iOS.

 

[Glitchny]

That was probably contracted out. What they're saying is that Samsung (the Mobile division) copied the "look and feel" of iOS.

Oh I know why they are suing, I was just stating that Samsung has been pretty involved in Apple's production.

 

[sciwizam]

Too funny. A while ago a friend of mine bought the Samsung F700. I didn't like the phone's keyboard and look. Eventually he returned it because of buggy software. However, few months later the iphone was launched and the first image of the iphone reminded me of the F700. Go figure.

I'm not allowed to post attachments but google the image and you'll see the resemblance.

I think the lawsuit will be dismissed but I am intrigued by it's timing.

Here you go...

 

[Kabob]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2061151

Note the last line of the OP....might as well call me Nostradeeko.

Anyway, I still think its a pretty silly lawsuit, but hey, we'll see.

Good call. As soon as I saw the thing I thought "this is an iPhone ripoff for people who want but can't get an iPhone."

Here you go...

Sorry, there's no catchy white silhouettes selling that Samsung product, it's obviously the ripoff.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I wouldn't be too sure about the lawsuit being dismissed.

Apple likely doesn't want money, they want production to stop, and they want to send a message to the other manufacturers.

 

[s44]

they want production to stop

Galaxy S is at EOL anyway.

I predict Apple will have about the same amount of success they had in suing Windows.

 

[Fire&Blood]

Thanks for posting the image. The F700 is actually older than the iphone, Samsung would stand a better chance of winning if they sued Apple for copying the F700 if they had patented it.

I was actually surprised that the use of accelerometer to switch landscape/portrait mode hasn't been patented back in 2005, would have have made a great leverage in patent lawsuit as it's substantial, most of these patents thrown around are quite vague compared to it.

 

[zoiks]

Thanks for posting the image. The F700 is actually older than the iphone, Samsung would stand a better chance of winning if they sued Apple for copying the F700 if they had patented it.

I was actually surprised that the use of accelerometer to switch landscape/portrait mode hasn't been patented back in 2005, would have have made a great leverage in patent lawsuit as it's substantial, most of these patents thrown around are quite vague compared to it.

I didn't know that styles could be patented.

 

[theeedude]

Samsung is saying it will retaliate:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/19/samsung_responds_to_apple_lawsuit/
Is Apple going to punish them by redesigning iPhone to have no CPU, Memory and Screen?

 

[Pliablemoose]

Samsung is saying it will retaliate:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/19/samsung_responds_to_apple_lawsuit/
Is Apple going to punish them by redesigning iPhone to have no CPU, Memory and Screen?

Apple likely has contingency plans ready or they woudn't have done this.

 

[theeedude]

Apple likely has contingency plans ready or they woudn't have done this.

 

[airdata]

wow... that's halarious. The F700 looks so similar to the iphone.

The iphone simply became the most popular smart phone out there. without digging, you'd probably assume others took inspiration from the iphone.

When I first saw the Galaxy I actually wondered if Apple would sue them because of the similarities. Apple even sues for stuff other people already own though... iphone name rights belonged to Cisco, same w\ ios... They don't seem to mind doing that, why try to attack their competition?

 

[ponyo]

Apple likely has contingency plans ready or they woudn't have done this.

And you don't think likewise for Samsung? Samsung had to know Apple would likely come after them. Only the blind wouldn't have noticed the similarities between the iPhone and the Galaxy S. Judging by that F700 picture, Samsung might have some other dirt they can dig up.

 

[ponyo]

I think Samsung has the most to gain from this suit. First, Samsung gets free publicity for their Galaxy S. Samsung branding seems to be paying off for Galaxy S as some of my less tech friends have mentioned the name. Second, Apple needs Samsung more than Samsung needs Apple. Samsung can easily make up 5-6% lost Apple revenue with increased Galaxy S sales if it comes to Apple pulling out. Samsung is now Apple's biggest competitor and Apple knows it. That's why Apple has recently tried to foster the growth of some of the smaller suppliers by helping them grow.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I think Samsung has the most to gain from this suit. First, Samsung gets free publicity for their Galaxy S. Samsung branding seems to be paying off for Galaxy S as some of my less tech friends have mentioned the name. Second, Apple needs Samsung more than Samsung needs Apple. Samsung can easily make up 5-6% lost Apple revenue with increased Galaxy S sales if it comes to Apple pulling out. Samsung is now Apple's biggest competitor and Apple knows it. That's why Apple has recently tried to foster the growth of some of the smaller suppliers by helping them grow.

I dunno, I guess I'm just a spectator, both corporations are doing very well, I can see both points of view.