“Design is increasingly important in unlocking value in technology (think the iPhone) but the design patent is the battleground where this new value is defended (as in the Apple vs Samsung patent dispute),” Haydn Shaughnessy reports for Forbes. “Design patent grants are increasing in number each year as the shape or appearance of a product becomes as defensible as the technology that makes it work.”
“For the past two years though there has been a surprising leader in design patent grants,” Shaughnessy reports. “Apple is the king of design patent exploitation but Samsung is the busier of the two.”
Shaughnessy reports, “It comes as a surprise to learn that Samsung, not Apple, was the leading grantee of design patents awarded by the US Patent and Trademark Office in 2012. It also topped the list in 2011. Remember, Samsung suffered a heavy defeat to Apple over design patent infringement in 2012 but it has proved to be a far more aggressive design patent applicant than Apple.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As with Apple vs. all comers in the smartphone, tablet, portable media player, and personal computer markets, so goes it with “design” patents: Quality vs. quantity.
We’d bet our Macs that nobody would want to infringe on the vast majority of Samsung’s design patents. If they weren’t interested in numbers for numbers’ sake, Samsung wouldn’t need patent protection for whatever fugliness they’re excreting.
We’re sure Microsoft has plenty of design patents for the Zune, too.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Jubei” for the heads up.]