“The iPhone of Apple Computer is allegedly a clone of a handset made by the Seoul-based LG Electronics, the world’s fifth-largest cell phone manufacturer,” Kim Tae-gyu reports for The Korea Times.
“…If LG sues Apple over patent infingement, it would be the second lawsuit against the iPhone after its long awaited release,” Tae-gyu reports. “As soon as Apple boss Steve Jobs revealed the iPhone last week, U.S. network company Cisco Systems filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming trademark rights on the iPhone [name].”
Tae-gyu reports, “LG Electronics also thinks the two gadgets are almost identical but the company seems undecided as to whether or not to cry foul against Apple through court action. ‘At first glance, we recognized the iPhone shares many form factors with the Prada phone. We are flattered that other makers follow our design policy,’ LG spokesman Lee Hyoung-kun said. ‘We can’t say at the moment whether or not we will file a lawsuit against Apple regarding this. It’s too early to make remarks on the issues,’ Lee said.”
“Experts predict that if the two phones share functionalities on top of looks, LG might file a complaint,” Tae-gyu reports. “LG has yet to reveal specifications of the Prada phone, which the firm looks to market soon. Yet, its exterior was shown to the public when it won the International Forum Design Product Design Award for 2007.”
Full article here.
LG spokesman Lee Hyoung-kun is correct that it’s too early to make remarks on the issues. One big question is how does the LG’s user interface work? Is the LG multi-touch or just “uni-touch?” An even bigger question would be who actually holds the patents that relate to each phone?
Apple’s iPhone user interface “is the result of years of research and development” and “boy, have we patented it.” – Apple CEO Steve Jobs, January 09, 2007
The Prada is a re-branded LG KE850 phone. A demo of the phone via YouTube (in French):
Apple Inc’s Phil Schiller shows CBS News’ John Blackstone some of the many features of the iPhone:
Hmm…I have to imagine it’s going to be tough for LG to win this one, simply because the entire industry is probably going to move to handsets that look more or less like this–an iPod sized brick with a touchscreen. From that perspective, they’re all going to look more or less the same.
I want you to look back at your comment and then think about all crap Apple has sued over the last (almost) 7 years.
APPLE IS COPYCAT!
iPhone looks like a copy of LG’s phone. Sue Apple just like Apple sued companies that made MP3 players that looked like the ipod.
…devil wears Prada
I dont beleive the details in aethetics of the iPhone UI has been finalised yet. It was one thing that struck me as being not that great, I’m talking specifically about the icons as shown in the above pic. They just don’t seem that nice to me.
I’m thinking the iPhone will be released with different icons, and this is just to stop people from copying it in the mean time.
And how many phones has LG copies? I don’t think they invented the flip phone, probably didn’t invent voice mail, likely didn’t discover that a good location for the microphone was at the bottom of the phone, and I’m almost sure they don’t own the patent for a rectangular-shaped communications device.
Sounds more like, “Hey, let’s threaten the iPhone with a lawsuit so our phone can get some free pub, too!”
I have a Devil of a boss who uses the Prada phone.
If the only similarity is the form factor and full screen I highly doubt there could be any kind of lawsuit. We already read that other phone manufacturer will have to go with full screen form factor but the patents are what is important here. LG does not have a patent on a device with such and such dimension and a full screen: you can’t patent those things and we all know how many so-called iPod killers try to use similar form factor as well: Apple cannot sue them for this.
By all appearances, the two phones share a similar box-like design, but I’m thinking that’s where the similarities end. The Prada phone looks very basic, and like it’s seriously lacking in functionality compared to the iPhone. The interfaces don’t even look similar, based on what I see. Sorry LG … you lose this one.
P.S. – Magic Word – “Take” as in, “Don’t take me for a fool!”
I can’t decide if MDN types blind-folded or they just rush these out the door as soon as possible… Parda?
I never thought there was another phone on a market as similar. Never heard of LC’s phone. Need a demo.
Ah, nice and quick fix MDN. You’re on the ball.
So, any wagers on how fast LC will lost it’s 5th spot?
How dot they look “the same”? If this is “the same”, then both ripped off the design of my 1980s TI pocket calculator: it, too, was flat, rectangular, and black.
Sue Apple just like Apple sued companies that made MP3 players that looked like the ipod.
Please name one lawsuit based on “they have the same/similar dimension of an iPod” or “they have a screen on the top as our iPod” or “they are white as an iPod”.
According to the documentation on the IF website, The International Forum Design Product Design Award for 2007, the official award ceremony is on March 15th 2007.
Am I misunderstanding something?
Also even if it was shown to the public as they state (likely when entered) the development of the iPhone would have already been well underway.
“LG has yet to reveal specifications of the Prada phone, which the firm looks to market soon. Yet, its exterior was shown to the public when it won the International Forum Design Product Design Award for 2007.”
Huh? They haven’t revealed the specifications, but Apple copied them? How could they copy something they’ve never seen? And how did they win an award for best design of 2007 when it’s only January 16? Weird world we live in.
Wow, they do look ver similar… Anyone know when the LG phone was first shown?
Hopefully the LG phone will be available on T-Mobile.
I love Apple, their phone looks cool, but I WILL NEVER SWITCH TO CINGULAR OR ATT!
NEVER!
“Experts predict that if the two phones share functionalities on top of looks, LG might file a complaint,” Tae-gyu reports. “LG has yet to reveal specifications of the Prada phone, which the firm looks to market soon. Yet, its exterior was shown to the public when it won the International Forum Design Product Design Award for 2007.”
If they haven’t released specifications or functionality, how could Apple have copied it?
Nevermind, I found it.
First pictures of LG Prada phone, Dec. 19, 2006:
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/first-pictures-of-the-lg-prada-phone-222990.php
They’ll lose, because Apple would be able to document the design process and countersue for possible patent violations, but they may be dreaming about cross-licenses instead.
LG is waiting to look at iPhone specifications, copy them, THENCE claim Apple copied theirs and file a lawsuit.
Well, if the features of the LG phone weren’t released until late December 2006, I can’t see how Apple would have just conjured up an iPhone in that short period of time. Get real. Apple said it was what, two years in development (at least), as well as Apple holding over 200 patents on the design.
Two hundred patents.
So I suppose it will come down to patent rights and infringement. US patents or international patents?
Two hundred patents. I feel secure that Apple has nothing to worry about.
People have been begging Apple for an iPhone for years. They finally deliver, lightyears ahead of anyones expectation and now, all that you read about is: they copied it, stole it, or it isn’t good enough, or it costs too much.
Envy and jealousy will not bring Apple down. Got that all you red ink losers!!!!!!!!!
How many pots have you smoken???
Oh come on…don’t all cell phones look alike nowadays?
Apple will probably sue LG
Apple has patented the touchscreen phone idea
I haven’t heard of any LG patent for touchscreen devices
LG probably wants a deal with Apple saying we won’t sue you if you don’t sue us . . .
Good lock, LG. But LG is not going to get that deal from Apple.
Apple will righfully sue the pants of LG all the way to Seul, Korea.
Good bye LG. Start building a cash reserve to pay Apple’s licesnses.
your dumb. at the time of your comment, Apple didnt have the patent. they just got it in 2011. they dont innovate shit, they buy other peoples inventions and claim to be innovators. They ripped off Kane Krammer for the iPod and they ripped off LG Prada.
And your missing the point that the iPhone was a copy. Apple cant sue LG you tard.
I don’t think anyone will think Apple copied LG… There is not even a possibility that Apple could have put iPhone together between Dec 19, when LG showed their phone and January 9, when Apple debuted iPhone.
It is a bummer though that both companies were developing a very similar design… Of course, even looking at the first shots and demos, the iPhone considerably trumps LG’s design, but LG did show it first.. Maybe LG studied some of Apple’s patent applications and tried to copy them before Apple launched iPhone.. If I remember correctly these touch-screen Apple patents started showing up around last Summer.
Why not, they copy everyone. Apple copied the iPod from Kane Kramer, copied the MacOS “dock” from Acorn computers, Was sued by Burst.com and settled for the technology used in the iPod and iTunes, copied the iPhone from LG Prada and Samsung F700, copied parts of iOS (like swipe to unlock etc) from NeoNode, Sued by Nokia and settled for patents related to GSM and UMTS standards as well as 802.11 WiFi technologies, Sued by Cisco and settled for using the “iPhone” name, copied the Finder icon from a Picasso painting titled “Two Characters”, copied the App Store from Jailbreak/Cydia, Sued by Personal Audio and lost for patents related to playlist implementation on the iPod. Personal Audio was awarded $8 million. Was sued by Mirror Worlds and lost for patents related to Cover Flow, Time Machine, and Spotlight features found in Mac OS X and iOS. Apple was ordered to pay $625.5 million to Mirror Worlds. And copied Android features that include Notifications, Wireless syncing, Tabbed browsing, New split keyboard, Open apps from the lock screen, and Over the air updates