Why Apple And Samsung Should Just Grow Up

While the are several possible examples of the first “automobile”, it is generally accepted that Karl Benz invented the modern automobile in 1885, and patented it in 1886 – 126 years ago.

As described on Wikipedia:

“An automobile powered by his own four-stroke cycle gasoline engine was built in Mannheim, Germany by Karl Benz in 1885, and granted a patent in January of the following year under the auspices of his major company, Benz & Cie., which was founded in 1883. It was an integral design, without the adaptation of other existing components, and included several new technological elements to create a new concept. He began to sell his production vehicles in 1888.”

There have been almost an uncountable number of motor vehicles built around the world since the day Benz received his patent in 1886. Certainly the number would be in the many multi-millions.

Every modern car, while they have different stylings and technologies included, are intrinsically all the same.

Engine. Wheels. Seats. Steering wheel. Brakes.

Look at ANY car and you’ll see all of those features.

The recent patent bickering between Apple and Samsung over who did or didn’t invent tablet computers, smartphone designs, and the like has been nothing other than a free-for-all for the lawyers.

Nobody is winning. One side gets a ruling, the other side appeals. That side wins the appeal, and then the other side appeals again. Each side gets banned from selling various products.

Products that people want to buy, while the pettiness of these companies stops exactly this from happening.

There is no doubt that their products look remarkably similar.

Ultimately, we see that all motor vehicles look remarkably similar also. What we don’t see is car makers acting like spoiled brats claiming patent breaches against each other.

Truth be known, with the initial patent Karl Benz received in 1886, Mercedes Benz could probably day claim patent infringement against every other car maker in the world, ever, since that date.

But they don’t.

The bottom line is, whoever “invented” the devices Apple and Samsung are arguing over, just as the car makers can happily work together in the industry selling ultimately similar products, Apple and Samsung should get over it too.

Cars look the same. Tablet computers and smartphones look the same. The Apple “iRange” and Samsung Galaxy range have defined and become the definitive shape of what such a device should look like.

Just as there is a definitive “shape” of motor vehicles.

Grow up chaps! People want to buy your gear. How about letting people do just that?

You’ll make more money that way, I promise.