Is Apple's iPad Replicated From '2001: An Area Odyssey'? (Video)

Everett Collection Who's much more of a visionary -- outgoing Apple Boss Jobs or legendary film director Stanley Kubrick? Now you ask , a lot more than academic. Now, Samsung challenged Apple's patent claims over tablet products by pointing to some scene in Kubrick's 1968 classic film, 2001: An Area Journey. Samsung is protecting itself against a suit introduced by Apple that alleges that it is competitor's type of various Android mobile phones and mobile pills infringe the look patents for apple iphones and iPads. Apple has asserted that Samsung's items will confuse customers included in a push to prevent the purchase of Samsung's allegedly infringing mobile products. Already, Apple has obtained some court victories, most particularly in Europe where earlier this year,adistrict court in Düsseldorf, Germany granted Apple's preliminary injunctionagainst the EU purchase of Samsung's Universe Tab 10.1. Now, Samsung has struck back by asking a California District Court to think about the question of whether an item in2001: An Area Journey that appears just like a tablet pc could be classified as "prior art." Based on Samsung's opposition papers: "Attached hereto as Exhibit D is really a true and proper copy of the still image obtained from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film "2001: An Area Journey." Inside a clip from that film lasting about about a minute, two astronauts are eating and simultaneously using personal tablet computer systems. The clip obtainable online athttp://world wide web.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ8pQVDyaLo. Just like the look stated by theD'889 Patent, named revealed within the clip comes with an overall rectangular shape having a dominant screen, narrow edges, a mainly flat front surface, a set back surface (that is apparent since the pills are laying flat up for grabs's surface), along with a thin form factor." Below may be the clip under consideration. (Hat tip: Foss Patents) It's to the of course laymen eyes as "non-enabling prior art" that wouldn't allow anybody skilled within the art to construct this type of device, however again, if your patent holder can sue a sci-fi film for violation, as was the situation last year for makers from the film, Knowable, possibly the sci-fi world can return the favor and safeguard its turf. Are movie galleries passing up on a potentially lucrative new revenue stream by neglecting to tips to negotiate in the USPTO? OK, most likely not. E-mail: eriqgardner@yahoo.com Twitter: @eriqgardner Jobs Apple 2001: An Area Journey