Apple Now Suing Samsung over Tablet and Phone Case Designs [Updated]

[iOrlando]

Yeah, let's just sue over some 3rd party cases, really logical.

This is Samsung's official case :

http://www.samsung.com/ca/consumer/...ubtype=cases&tab=featurespec&subsubtype=cases

While it looks nothing like a smart cover, I bet Apple has a patent on a case that can prop up a tablet computer.

You are on quite the kick in this thread. Seem to be very angry that they included the ripped-off smart cover picture. Why?

Samsung has demonstrated a willingness to copy Apple on a number of fronts, including third-party accessories.

Samsung knew very well that the case looked like a smart cover and if people didn't point it out, Samsung would have went ahead and sold it through its channel.

No one knows what cases are being described in Apple's complaint, so I wouldn't be so sure of the cases that aren't included. Ask any lawyer, these lawsuits can get pretty twisted and crazy.

 

[Kaibelf]

I think that are should be is. Samsung is a joke of a company. Seeing that you can't write a compete sentence, I wonder if you can read and comprehend the article.

"Seeing that" is bad usage. Use "Since." I mean, if you're going to play this game, play it correctly.

 

[Oletros]

There is no way Samsung would "accidentally" install strategic magnets in their Galaxy Tab, unless there was a reason to do so.
If they are mimicking Apple's placement, but letting a 3rd party do the dirty work of manufacturing the "smart cover knock-off" then an Apple lawyer should ask Samsung what the engineering requirement was for the magnets.

Apple co-designed the smart cover and the iPad 2 to work together.
I find it hard to believe that Samsung would complicate their design with unnecessary magnets, unless their was a practical application of those magnets.

Galaxy Tab doesn't have any magnet

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

This morning I placed a slate tablet on my wall and wrote a shopping list.

Apple rang me 3-minutes later and said that I infringed seven patent rights.

 

[PeterQVenkman]

Santa is bringing all the boys and girls lawsuits this christmas!

 

[The Great Boony]

I think that are should be is. Samsung is a joke of a company. Seeing that you can't write a compete sentence, I wonder if you can read and comprehend the article.

What's a "compete sentence"?

Pwnt

 

[divinox]

nope and that's the effect the macrumors staff was going for i bet. Delectable clicks as a result of flame baiting and enraged people who don't bother to read the letters under the picture.

qft

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Note to self: Never get on Apple's bad side

That being said they constantly are copied off of so one cannot blame them for ferociously protecting their IP. If I made something people constantly copied off of I'd feel the same way too.

Just take a look at before the iPad was announced. Everyone held off to see what Apple was going to release.



This! I too was amazed at the similarities.

Fusion Garage certainly didn't.

 

[The Great Boony]

"Seeing that" is bad usage. Use "Since." I mean, if you're going to play this game, play it correctly.

Heh heh

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Touche.

Did you mean 'douche'?

BE

 

[divinox]

I think we have the moral high ground. Samsung copies everything we do and would love to live in the Apple/Mac/iPhone/iPod world. We came up with the first PC smaller than a gymnasium, GUI, and first aluminum case for a laptop.

At least two out of three are wrong. Wouldn't be shocked if its all three.

 

[63dot]

At least two out of three are wrong. Wouldn't be shocked if its all three.

All three wrong, but I was having fun.

Samsung will probably "copy" us a lot, but let the market decide. It's probably fairly hard to defend the Apple "ideas/inventions", but I think iPad is a good money maker and will continue to be no matter what Samsung does.

That being said, the Samsung phones seem really great, and I love their commercial mocking the young people camping out in front of an Apple Store.

 

[divinox]

It "snaps" on in a plastic shell. No magnets (where did you get that idea from?)
Image

Just like the Incase case for the original iPad.

Image

Oh the irony. Apple-ites call "Samsungs" cover a copy of their cover, when its really a copy of the cover that Apple too copied. Not sure if i've ever seen such widespread self-burning before. Lemming-like.

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When it comes to computer technology in general, I would probably say IBM.

...or MSFT.

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Is the patent for magnets? Or magnets and a case?

Both, and neither. Its "complicated". In short, magnets allow for communication between the "smart" cover, and the main device. Apple have an insanely broad patent on things like that.

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actually, "are" is acceptable in the sense that samsung can be viewed as a collection of beings. It's kind of like, "the utah jazz are in first place." you wouldn't use "is" there.

Not a big deal, just thought i'd chime in.

qft.

 

[Kentochan]

I bet Samsung is doing this just to screw with Apple's lawyers LOL

 

[divinox]

Samsung didn't make the cover, the CEO's nephew's company does. Give me a break.

How many did he sell?

 

[subsonix]

Is it really clear that the law suit refers to a add-on protective "case", and not the actual case of the device?

 

[paul4339]

Is it really clear that the law suit refers to a add-on protective "case", and not the actual case of the device?

This is what I'm wondering as well...
1) Anymode makes some knock-off cases
2) Samsung prepares sell through their stores (and -supposedly- certifies it)
3) Samsung gets busted/exposed, claims it was an oversight and pulls all the products. Anymode pulls the product as well. -Nothing is sold- (??)

This was back in July. So what's the big deal?

Now we have a notice of infringement to Samsung "...over the company's tablet and smartphone cases..." Somehow along the way we assume it's about the Galaxy tablet Smartcovers made by Anymode that were pulled??
I must have missed something. Can someone clarify?

.

 

[63dot]

This is what I'm wondering as well...
1) Anymode makes some knock-off cases
2) Samsung prepares sell through their stores (and -supposedly- certifies it)
3) Samsung gets busted/exposed, claims it was an oversight and pulls all the products. Anymode pulls the product... -Nothing is sold- (??)

This was back in July. So what's the big deal?

Now we have a notice of infringement to Samsung "...over the company's tablet and smartphone cases..." Somehow along the way we assume it's about the Galaxy tablet Smartcovers made by Anymode that were pulled??
I must have missed something. Can someone clarify?

.

One of the most frequent posters on Macrumors is a patent attorney in Silicon Valley. I am surprised he has not chimed in.

 

[bdavis89]

The problem with Samsung is that they intentionnally design their stuff so that they can be confused with already existing Apple products.

Their phones look confusingly like iPhones, their tablet look confusingly like iPads.

I mean, some weeks ago i was in a computer store, i saw tablets on demos and wanted to go see iPads, i moved toward what looked like iPad until i came close and realized that it was the Galaxy Tab.

Same thing happened to me with Galaxy phones, me watching someone using a Samsung Galaxy phone while for an instant thinking that the person is actually using a iPhone.

And i know how Apple products looks like, and Samsung play with consumer confusion intentionnally with their design to attract some peoples to their product.

Funny, I make the same mistake when looking at TVs in Best Buy. I couldn't distinguish the LG TV from the Sony TV until I got close enough to see the name on it. All these companies are trying to trick you into thinking their product is some other brand until you actually see it up close!

 

[vitzr]

Apple must be deriving some sort of bizarre thrills, as they pay huge sums of money to their corporate pit bulls.

Of even greater interest is all the naysayers condemning the news that Apple may actually pay a dividend to all the shareholders like myself that have funded Apple for many years, quite handsomely...

Everyone's an "Expert"... heh!

From my seat in the theater, this is one of the best movies to date... and we aren't even near the end.

 

[juliusaugustus]

It is kinda funny the Case isn't made/designed by Samsung and doesn't use magnets either.

 

[PlipPlop]

I have the book cover for my Galaxy Tab and its nothing like the ipad ones, its a much better case which offers superior protection.

 

[vitzr]

It is kinda funny the Case isn't made/designed by Samsung and doesn't use magnets either.

Quite right.

It's all minutia, and Apple is loving all the headlines, press, and other forms of attention they are getting. Rather like the bratty out of control 2 year old, that just wants attention good or bad.

The only problem is, not everyone loves Apple and to those, the Cupertino Company is coming across as rather asinine. No wonder Android supporters loathe Apple.

To someone like myself that has been a very long time Apple supporter, advocate, and loyalist with a conscious, it's a bit embarrassing.

 

[feldejak]

I hate these lawsuits! That's not to say that Samsung does have cases and chargers that are clearly copied off Apple's designs, but every five minutes these tech companies are fighting each other instead of innovating to become the best vendor. It's time for them to suck it up and have lawsuits over real issues when they arise, not these design aspects.

 

[BaldiMac]

It is kinda funny the Case isn't made/designed by Samsung and doesn't use magnets either.

You mean the case that Apple isn't suing Samsung over?

To summarize, the case that Apple isn't suing Samsung over isn't made or designed by Samsung and doesn't use magnets.

I hope everyone is clear on that now.

(Full disclosure: the case that I use to keep my sunglasses in isn't the subject of a lawsuit by Apple, isn't made or designed by Samsung, but does use magnets.)

 

[juliusaugustus]

Quite right.

It's all minutia, and Apple is loving all the headlines, press, and other forms of attention they are getting. Rather like the bratty out of control 2 year old, that just wants attention good or bad.

The only problem is, not everyone loves Apple and to those, the Cupertino Company is coming across as rather asinine. No wonder Android supporters loathe Apple.

To someone like myself that has been a very long time Apple supporter, advocate, and loyalist with a conscious, it's a bit embarrassing.

Any publicity is good publicity.

 

[dethmaShine]

Why is that picture in the article? The cases are not made by Samsung.

I know, this context is present in the article but that pic should have never been there.

But in my opinion, I really don't know what game Samsung was playing. No offence to anyone who is a fan of the company, but I've been involved in businesses with a number of asian companies. I myself am an asian and I don't feel shy to say that the manipulation and corruption you would find at any level is astonishing. I do have my doubts that Samsung collaborated with Anymode, given that both companies share personal relations.

Please don't take this as an offence (asians, esp. - you would understand though), but its not going to be surprising if tomorrow, there's a news that Samsung did ask Anymode to make those cases.

No rant; but just an opinion given my experiences in the corporate world.