wirehead said, "... how a particular company would actually have the nerve to claim ownership of an existing shape. especially if it has also been used by much older phones whose manufacturers did not claim patents for because they have common sense"
- If other manufacturers did not register their patents, then the first in time to do so (Apple) gets the protection. So the patent system is fine but the detailed technical issues must be something else.
wirehead said, "... how a particular company would actually have the nerve to claim ownership of an existing shape. especially if it has also been used by much older phones whose manufacturers did not claim patents for because they have common sense"
- If other manufacturers did not register their patents, then the first in time to do so (Apple) gets the protection. So the patent system is fine but the detailed technical issues must be something else.
Btw, I just heard that all the jurors are from silicon valley? ie home of Apple
http://smarthouse.com.au/Home_Office/Industry/B6A7K6S5
... hey, then there may be vested interests...