2001: An Apple Odyssey

Eric Bianchi
August 24, 2011
4 Comments

apple v samsung space odyssey

Apple v Samsung

Apple’s patent infringement case(s) veered off in a new direction this week as Samsung started to clutch at the most eloborate of straws. As they continue to try and hold up a defence against the accusations we can only guess that the Korean firm enlisted the help some SciFi mega-geeks for their latest counter-claims.

Of the nine global legal battles that involved the two, one in the District Court for the Northern District of California involving four alleged breaches of patent is where the scene is set. Now if we tell you that the latest filing by Samsung involves Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, you may go all WTF on us. Stay with it though. It’s worth it in the end.

Anyone that remembers the 1968 epic may have noticed two guys chowing down on some food whilst watching something on what appears to be the creation of Steve Jobs and co. The clip below shows what Samsung is on about:

With the clip, the brief reads that the tablet in the clip “has an overall rectangular shape with a dominant display screen, narrow borders, a predominately flat front surface, a flat back surface (which is evident because the tablets are lying flat on the table’s surface), and a thin form factor”.

They also claim that a tablet similar to the iPad was also present in a 70s edition of British show The Tomorrow People. After discovering the filing, patents expert Florian Mueller commented, “It would be amazing if the court agreed with Samsung that this constitutes prior art for that particular iPad-related design patent. Whether or not Samsung will succeed, the mere fact that they proffer this kind of evidence is remarkable.”

This case verged on the ridiculous when it was first filed thanks to the fact that Apple is basically going after Samsung for a number of things including the shape of the Galaxy products – something that is synonymous with almost all tablets. Samsung may well be taking the piss here. Let them do it though. We do have to thank Apple as well. If this case hadn’t been filed we’d never have seen the filing from Samsung.

If you have any further information related to this story that you would like to share with us privately please click here.

Can't get enough CalvinAyre.com? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, then you'll never miss out on the latest gaming industry news.

Share
Tags: Apple, Article, samsung
Views and opinions expressed are those of the Author and do not necessarily reflect those of CalvinAyre.com
  • http://calvinayre.com/2011/08/24/marketing/iphone-5-and-diet-iphone-4-date-rumors/ New devices expected in October | Marketing news

    [...] Apple’s new iPhone will be available to more subscribers than ever in the USA after Sprint became the third company to confirm they’d be selling it. Dubbed the “iPhone 5” the new device has already been delayed a month to mid-October and it will now be available to the approximate 52 million subscribers that Sprint possesses. The US’s two-largest carriers, Verizon Wireless and AT&T, are also planning to offer the device. It means that around 257 million people who are already signed up to the three networks will have access to the new device and shows the country’s increasing preference for smart phone devices. Early indications show that the new device will be similar to the iPhone 4 but thinner, lighter and have an improved digital camera and operating system. [...]

  • http://calvinayre.com/2011/08/25/marketing/apple-loses-its-core/ Steve Jobs has stepped down as CEO at Apple | Marketing news

    [...] the most influential personalities in all of Silicon Valley has resigned as Steve Jobs’ reign as Apple head honcho has come to an end. Jobs has been on leave since January 17th after a liver transplant [...]

  • http://calvinayre.com/2011/09/01/marketing/almost-half-of-uk-population-uses-mobile-internet/ 45% of UK population uses mobile internet | Lifestyle news

    [...] use went from 44% to 71%. This, along with the 25-34 bracket (up to 65% from 47%), are the online gambling industry’s main demographic and a number of those with access to mobile internet will have any number of [...]

  • http://calvinayre.com/2011/09/03/legal/wilan-apple-suit-nokia-mosaid-deal/ Patent Troll Targets Apple and Nokia Deals with the devil | Legal News

    [...] Samsung and Apple continue to take legal pot shots at each other in wireless technology lawsuits; Apple specifically and the industry as a whole has a new legal monster to contend with. A new [...]