Since I work at Google, you'll have to qualify that claim, because in my opinion, Google has more respect for user data than most other companies.
The iPhone 4 actually looked like an LG Prada as well.
James Hahn demonstrated many of the multitouch gestures before Apple, proving that other people were coming up with the same ideas independently as soon as the tech for detecting multiple touches accurately was available (capacitive touch)
Apple did bring a lot of things together in the iPhone 1, but that shouldn't give them the right to own the entire concept of a touch screen phone, nor should they be allowed to hamper competition through stupid patents like the data-tapping patent.
Imagine if IBM had patented the PC or Xerox the UI, and aggressively sued anyone who tried to use them, as well as refusing to license at a reasonable rate. The entire PC revolution, which was kicked off by cloning and free-form building on the work of competitors, might have been hampered.
Apple stands on the shoulders of giants too, and they should not attempt to cripple those that want to stand on their shoulders.