Samsung has claimed sci-fi snorefest masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey provides evidence that Apple didn't invent the tablet computer, Foss Patents reports. It's the latest twist in the ongoing patent battle between the two companies, as part of which Apple is trying to block the sale of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet.
Along with a screenshot from the film, Samsung's defence filing to a US court states: 'In a clip from that film lasting about one minute, two astronauts are eating and, at the same time, using personal tablet computers.'
'As with the design claimed by [Apple's] D'889 Patent, the tablet disclosed 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.'
What Samsung is saying is that the 2001 tablets are evidence of prior art -- instances of an invention being described before it was patented (in this case patented by Apple).
Samsung may have a point -- it's bizarre to claim that the iPad was the very first instance of a tablet computer. And yet, somehow, Samsung's latest move smacks of desperation.
Earlier today, news emerged that the Samsung Galaxy S2 smart phone has been banned from sale in Europe, with a judge declaring that Samsung's dual-core smart phone infringes on one of Apple's patents.
What's your response to all this? Did Apple invent the tablet? When will this patent madness end? Let us know in the comments section below, or on our Facebook page. Here's that clip from 2001 to help you make up your own mind.
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Comments 13
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Andyt95 24 August, 2011 18:29
How the f**k are Apple claiming they invented the tablet computer?
Seriously, who do they think they are? God?
Jacques Garner 24 August, 2011 20:27
I do not know of any products that equalled the iPad before its release, but it is likely that their inspiration came from these 'devices' in sci-fi films and programmes. Whether they can say that they 'invented' it or not is a matter of opinion: they (to my knowledge) are the first to release something of this caliber to the public so, in effect, they did invent it. On the other hand, the undeniable similarities between the iPad and tablets in old TV shows suggests that the idea was not original. Regardless, this move from Samsung screams desperation. They have looked up tablets from stuff on TV.
If a person invented a REAL time machine, did he/she invent it? After all the idea has been used in TV and books for decades! The fact is, the manufacturer that makes the idea a reality is the inventor. Apple made the product a reality, and if there was no real predecessor to the iPad, if there is no manufacturer or inventor to prove that they are the true creators of the tablet, then Apple cannot be denied this invention.
Plus, many say that it isn't a tablet but merely an oversized iPod touch... well who invented that?
anonymous 24 August, 2011 23:01
Maybe I didn't read it right or interpret correctly but I felt that apple were defending a patent on a concept?
Oh, wait, that was the galaxy phone and the gallery application it (and every other photo browsing app) uses!
Gotta love money grabbing, innovation stifling, short sighted, behemoth companies that care only for their shareholders and their own pockets... Consumers? They're only there to give up their cash.....
Gotta love Almighty Jobs :-)
anonymous 25 August, 2011 01:41
What about archos devices, they have been around for ages and as far as I can see could be qualified as 'tablets'?
anonymous 25 August, 2011 02:34
I sometimes wonder what Jobs has in his medication in referring that Apple invented tablet PC's, as others have manufactured and produced them a long time before apple branched out into the market. Maybe his inspiration was watching Stargate ATLÅNTIS, as they were using tablets. Microsoft produced a tablet version of the XP OS for tablets, and had manufactured them in 2002.
anonymous 25 August, 2011 07:01
Surely if Apple filed the patents and Samsung have infringed on them it's acceptable to take legal action...
anonymous 25 August, 2011 10:54
The First Patent for a tablet computer was issued in 1888. Or what could be described as such. Not to mention the fact Microsoft have been making Tablet computers from the 1980's.
Kodix 25 August, 2011 11:11
Whether Apple has "invented the tablet" device in its current form is not relevant for this patent legal dispute. Apple obviously uses the extra cash that it has to muscle out competitors from the market. If you bring enough dough to the table judges seem to lose the context of these battles and are baffled by the gazillions of lawyers.
Also obviously no reasonable human being considers that Apple has invented the concept of tablet computer. What its lawyers try quite successfully to put to courts is that specific styling, functions and form of the Galaxy devices was designed to closely resemble the Apple gadgets.
Although this is countered by the fact that Apple itself copied most of its phone functions form the existing devices of its day and dome a successful mash up, Samsung is likely to lose this battle just because it cannot afford to drop tens of millions of hard earned cash into this.
if you are upset about this type of competition vote with your feet and hurt them by not buying into the hype. HTC, Motorola, LG, Sony, ZTE and even Nokia do phones and other tablets that are just as good as iPhone and iPad. Some of them are actually quite better.
royfranklin 25 August, 2011 22:23
Its us the customer who will lose out.I thought communism stifling of competition etc was not the American way.
anonymous 26 August, 2011 08:04
tablet computers have been around ALOT longer than the iPad. what distinguishes the iPad from a tablet computer? oh yes its made by Apple so therefore it must be different and somehow better.
If I remember correctly Apple did the same with Firewire - quite clearly already on the available but because they forced it to market - it 'became' a feature of theirs.
anonymous 26 August, 2011 11:09
Interesting enough although they're watching the video on an 'ipad' (actually labelled "IBM Tele Pad" when watching in 1080p) the astronauts daily checks of the space station are still conducted using a good old fashioned pen and clipboard!
anonymous 1 September, 2011 00:02
Of course Apple didn't invent the tablet computer, and before more people slam Apple for claiming they did, how about a citation or link to prove they have made such a claim? In this article, the idea is put forth by its writer in a question designed to encourage rants about it. I have read elsewhere that Jobs and Apple have NOT made this claim. But typical for Apple, they ARE trying to protect the "look-and-feel" of the iPad, which is obviously inspired by historical and cultural influences they did not invent on their own. Just like their failed attempt to co-opt the work of Xerox-PARC as theirs in the look-and-feel law suit against Microsoft Windows, they'll lose this one too.
anonymous 1 September, 2011 15:01
got to say i hope apple lose otherwise the prospect of quality tablets becoming truly affordable will be lost for a very long time.
i also hate the fact apple use and have copyrighted the term 'retina display' sorry but apple's idea of what a retina display is and tomorrows worlds version (from the 70's) are miles apart - why do they bother stating that a high resolution screen is a retina display? a retina display in my mind is a display beamed directly into the retina negating the need for a screen altogether, something we are still a few years away from achieving.
apple basically sell existing technology wrapped up in a nice box and then claim to be inventors.
i would love HP to flood the market with Touchpads just to knock ipad off the top spot!