Recent Samsung Patent Filing Includes Images of Apple Watch

[MacRumors]

In a recent patent filing detailing smart watch band swapping mechanisms, Samsung appears to have cut some corners and borrowed a few familiar looking images from Apple.

The South Korean company's patent application for a "Wearable Device" features several design drawings of the Apple Watch that appear to be based on Apple Watch marketing materials and images, as was discovered by Patently Apple and Business Insider.

Samsung uses Apple Watch drawings alongside its own product drawings as examples of methods for attaching a band to a smart watch. The Apple Watch's lug attachment site is clearly depicted along with bands like the Classic Buckle, Modern Buckle, Milanese Loop, and Leather Loop, suggesting Samsung's product designers and engineers are drawing inspiration from Apple's wearable device.

Figures 10A to 10F and 11A to 11F are views illustrating diverse shapes, structures, and materials of a first strap portion or second strap portion in a wearable device according to am embodiment of the present disclosure.

Samsung has a long history of copying Apple designs and is often ridiculed for its tendencies to emulate Apple, so the use of Apple Watch design images for its patent examples is a curious choice.

One of Samsung's images (right) compared to a marketing image of the Apple Watch (left). Via BusinessInsider.​

Apple and Samsung continue to be embroiled in a long-running lawsuit that found Samsung guilty of infringing on iPhone design patents, and Samsung has already paid Apple $548 million as a result. Just today, more than 100 designers wrote an amicus brief supporting Apple in its ongoing battle with Samsung, describing how the visual design of a product has "powerful effects on the human mind and decision making processes."

Article Link: Recent Samsung Patent Filing Includes Images of Apple Watch

 

[captain cadet]

How is this a patent if its already out there? I can see this one hitting the court!

 

[nagromme]

Fire Tim Cook! Apple should be more like Samsung! Every tiny action Apple takes is proof that Apple is taking no OTHER actions!

Repeat below.

 

[checker2010]

LOL. Now Samsung are trying to patent Apple products after Apple create them. I guess its a novel business strategy.

 

[555gallardo]

Apple should be more like Samsung!

Can't wait to preorder my iPhone SE Grand Max Neo Plus Duos!

 

[ryansimmons323]

This will bode well with the Supreme Court.

 

[shaunp]

lazy b*stards!!!

 

[Porco]

The headphone jack comment the other day was cringeworthy, but this is comedy genius.

 

[rjohnstone]

It's used for reference purposes.
Just about every patent submitted lists prior patents and images to give the examiner a frame of reference.
Samsung is not making any claim to the design in the application.

And as expected, the masses who know nothing about the filing process are already offended for Apple.

Where's the popcorn when you need it?

 

[now i see it]

Sammy & Apple have got to have the most schizophrenic relationship on earth.

 

[Icaras]

A new low for Samsung. Quick Apple! Time to patent the patents!

 

[JohnApples]

Fire Tim Cook! Apple should be more like Samsung! Every tiny action Apple takes is proof that Apple is taking no OTHER actions!

Repeat below.

Well you forgot a "more watch bands" joke (if you want to call it a joke at this point anymore) but yeah, nicely summed up.

 

[mejsric]

Shameless!

So, its like Samsung made smartwatch first and also now they patent it first?

 

[keysofanxiety]

For Odin's sake, it's a touchscreen attached to a wrist band. Based on that immensely vague description, can Samsung's engineers really not sketch something remotely distinguishable from an Apple Watch?

 

[MeJRGV]

Well this is just ridiculous. Samsung does have some cool products so it's completely unnecessary to copy Apple. What kind of message do they even send out as a company when they don't seem to be confident enough to use their own product designs...

 

[pat500000]

Who are the designers at samsung?

 

[Bubba Satori]

Samsung won't be copying up to date Apple computers.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Samsung won't be copying up to date Apple computers.

Yeah, cause their computer business went down the crapper.

 

[PBRsg]

Samsung does not even bother to hide the knocking off any more.

 

[gramtrax]

Samsung has a well-established culture of outright copying, and even when caught red-handed they just keep going. While I will be looking at an Android phone for my next purchase, I definitely will be staying away from anything made by Samsung.

Including their TVs, which seem to be everywhere these days...

 

[keysofanxiety]

It's used for reference purposes.
Just about every patent submitted lists prior patents and images to give the examiner a frame of reference.
Samsung is not making any claim to the design in the application.

And as expected, the masses who know nothing about the filing process are already offended for Apple.

Where's the popcorn when you need it?

Why didn't they just sketch the Galaxy Gear then?

 

[hybroid]

LMFAO!

 

[Bubba Satori]

Yeah, cause their computer business went down the crapper.

Were they selling three year old computers at three year old prices?
That would explain it.

 

[MillieWales]

Who are the designers at samsung?

The head of design is a guy called Ronnie Jive

 

[rjohnstone]

Why didn't they just sketch the Galaxy Gear then?

It's in there too.
It helps your case when you give the examiner as much background info as possible.

This particular patent filing is related to smart bands or bands that provide additional functionality and their various connection methods.
99% of the people commenting will not bother to actually go and read the claims of the patent. They'll feign outrage and make wild claims of copying.