132-page internal memo shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone
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Re: 132-page internal memo shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone
#2Pretty damning, I'm confident that all the mobile manufacturers do this against each other, why wouldn't they? It just sucks to be Samsung right now.
Re: 132-page internal memo shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone
#3What's annoying is this isn't the real issue. Of course Samsung felt threatened by the iPhone, and set out to copy the aspects of it they liked. That's how capitalism works.
The real issue is what degree of protection should our legal system provide original innovators against those who want to copy their innovations.
I think the guiding principle should be the least legal protection that would still leave enough incentive for the original innovation to be created. In the case of software, where there is little fixed investment cost and a competitive advantage to being "first to market", I have a hard time seeing the need for any legal protection.
For example, could anyone seriously argue that Apple wouldn't, say, implement a "slide to unlock" mechanism on the iPhone if they couldn't patent that behavior?
We really need an act of congress to rectify this situation.
Re: 132-page internal memo shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone
#4How is this about copying? This is a company taking a long hard look at how their product stacks up against the competition. It's called capitalism and competition. If you're not taking a hard look at how you compare to competitors then you're going to die. Notice development steps on each page point on how to improve their offering.
Re: 132-page internal memo shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone
#5Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Re: 132-page internal memo shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone
#6Everything is a remix:
Re: 132-page internal memo shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone
#7What's annoying is this isn't the real issue. Of course Samsung felt threatened by the iPhone, and set out to copy the aspects of it they liked. That's how capitalism works. The real issue is what degree of protection should our legal system provide original innovators against those who want to copy their innovations. I think the guiding principle should be the least legal protection that would still leave enough inc…
But this isn't the issue at hand.
Apple's claiming that Samsung deliberately copied their trade dress to confuse consumers. Remember, trade dress isn't functionality. It's the look and feel of the product, not the functionality.
It's over things like the color of the slide to unlock mechanism. The choice of icons and placement. Not the fact that you move your finger across the screen in a certain place to unlock the phone.
Re: 132-page internal memo shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone
#8For me the most depressing part is that you have what I consider to be a pretty reasonable gap analysis with recommendations that has now become damning evidence showing bad behavior. This is unfortunate. I'd like all companies to profile their own products against others and own up to where they fall short and have plans to get better. If a company says, "Our phone gets only four hours on a charge but their's gets six, we should step it up", that's OK. But if they say, "The date display on the Calendar icon should match the current date on the phone", that's "slavishly copying".
Side note: where did Apple get inspiration for their should a reel-to-reel recorder image in the new podcast app? Slide 121? Answer: I don't know but it shouldn't matter.
Re: 132-page internal memo shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone
#9Wait, is this the same memo as http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4349519 ? If so, jesus, what a link bait title.
Re: 132-page internal memo shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone
#10How is this about copying? This is a company taking a long hard look at how their product stacks up against the competition. It's called capitalism and competition. If you're not taking a hard look at how you compare to competitors then you're going to die. Notice development steps on each page point on how to improve their offering.
To me, what's damning is how similar EVERY SINGLE SCREEN looks to the iPhone. They also pretty much never point out that differences in their design are better than the iPhone. They only talk about how they need to make it more like the iPhone.