Samsung Argues That Apple's Designs Are "Obvious"

Apple rested its case in the trial against Samsung this week, and now the South Korean company is doing everything possible to prove its innocence. AllThingsD reports that Samsung attempted to dismiss allegations that its products copied the design of the iPhone, with senior user experience design Jeeyuen Wang testifying that the company didn't copy any of Apple's icons. She went on to say that Samsung tested multiple icons, ultimately falling back on familiar pictures such as the traditional telephone because users responded better to them.

Samsung's lawyers then attempted to demonstrate that the iPhone's design wasn't original, showing various pieces of prior art, including several patents and LG's Prada phone, all of which came before the release of the iPhone. After that, Samsung moved on to the design of the iPad, playing a video to the jury of Roger Fidler, who created several prototypes for tablets. Although they were mockups and not working devices, some features were reminiscent of the iPad, including a large touchscreen, a rectangular shape with rounded corners, and an all black bezel.

The electronics manufacturer then addressed Apple's design patents, saying that they should be invalidated due to prior art, and that the elements that have been patented covered functions rather than ornamental design. Samsung's lawyers argued that two iPhone design patents were invalid, saying that a Japanese patent "renders both of these designs obvious." Samsung looks to be sticking to its original argument that Apple is essentially trying to patent a rectangular display with rounded corners.

Apple's counterargument to the claims boiled down to the fact that there are alternative designs that Samsung could have used for its phones. Apple cited one of Sony's tablets, saying that while it has a rectangular display and rounded corners, it doesn't look like the iPad nor does it infringe on Apple's design patents. Apple also introduced the design of the Nokia Lumia 800 and GzOne phone from Casio, again suggesting that there were alternative designs that Samsung could have pursued.