“2001: A Space Odyssey” Originator of iPad Design?

In the recent court case between Samsung and Apple in California, Samsung have put forward quite an interesting defence against Apple’s call for a preliminary junction… They have claimed that the tablet computer used by 2 astronauts in the classic sci-fi film constitutes  valid prior art for a certain iPad related design patent.

Attached hereto as Exhibit D is a true and correct copy of a still image taken from Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey.” In a clip from that film lasting about one minute, two astronauts are eating and at the same time using personal tablet computers. The clip can be downloaded online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ8pQVDyaLo. As with the design claimed by the 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.

I’m not totally sure how valid this is from a legal perspective, but it is quite funny!

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