I disagree with this statement. I think WebOS built off iOS and did a better job in many ways, but I don't think most people would call it an iOS ripoff.
What Samsung did is wholly different, in my opinion. They took the iPhone and looked at every aspect of it and said, "Make our product work almost exactly like this."
If I were to split this case down to the bare basics, it'd go something like this...
Apple is guilty of splitting hairs over every small thing they can possibly get away with. It's one thing to protect your IP. Another thing entirely to do what Apple is doing right now.
On the other hand, Samsung is guilty of...well...I don't want to say copying, exactly. There are quite a few differences between default iOS and their greatly inspired by iOS Touchwiz interface.
...but they weren't really trying to differentiate themselves all that much, either.
Ultimately, I can't root for either company here. Thing is, Samsung winning won't make much of a difference. They'd continue selling their Galaxy phones and tablets much as they are now. A win wouldn't allow them to become even more brazen with their aping, because Apple could then sue them over what would be a crystal clear case of infringement/trademark violation. Life would go on, much as it has these past couple of years.
But if Apple were to win, it'd give them the tools and the means to go after people that are honestly trying build upon and improve Apple's innovations and the smartphone scene in general. Even though I doubt it'd go this far, it could potentially lead to Apple having a lockdown on everything good we currently take for granted in our smartphones.
And if Apple has proven one thing to me these last few years, it's that they're a litigious bunch, willing to play the system and sue over practically anything they can possibly get away with.
