Does Apple have a monopoly on icons arranged in a grid? If so, the Windows desktop and many other interfaces are at risk.
Samsung's phone is close to the same dimensions AND has the grid of applications AND has that grid at the same dimensions AND has the "dock" AND that "dock" has 4 applications AND the phone has a single "home" button at the bottom AND the speaker at the top is thin and rectangular... as the iPhone.
Yes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but when you start confusing consumers as to who's is who's, you're no longer in the "flattery" area.
If it is the trademarks, it's really no surprise that Apple is suing. In order to keep a trademark, you have to maintain it. So Apple probably had to sue to keep their iphone trademarks.
Google has the same issue with the use of the word "Google" as a verb.
The article mentions trademarks only insofar as some icons on the Galaxy may infringe on trademarks held by Apple (i.e., the icon is so close to the iOS version that a consumer would not be able to tell the difference).
Everything else is a patent dispute, and I think all of us know the validity of these patent-based suits.
It really doesn't have anything to do with trademarks at all, except for a couple of instances of icons distributed with the phone.
With the trackpad in the middle.
Oh crap, they have a speaker at the top, too. My goodness. I guess I'll have to make my next mobile phone ovoid with the speaker on the bottom and the icons arranged in a dodecahedron.
'The court ruled that, "Apple cannot get patent-like protection for the idea of a graphical user interface, or the idea of a desktop metaphor [under copyright law]"'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Computer,_Inc._v._Microso...
How is a smart phone any different? This isn't innovation, just desperation.
I wonder how Bill Gates feels nowadays for saving Apple, when Steve Jobs got back. Without MS moral support - promising future releases of Mac Office, and a ton of money - Apple would've probably went bust than.