Stanley Kubrick may have designed first iPad, says Samsung

The Apple - Samsung patent battle seems to be getting quirkier with each passing day. In what comes as the latest move from the Samsung camp, their defence has been found in the 1968 science fiction Hollywood classic 2001: A Space Odyssey, by director, Stanley Kubrick. According to Samsung’s statement as a part of its defence, Apple may not have been the brain behind the design of the first iPad, after all. 

The movie screenshot showing the personal tablet computer

All those who’ve watched, enjoyed, marveled and felt awestruck by the movie, which was deemed a classic, may have nearly missed a scene from the film showing two astronauts using, what closely resembles a personal tablet computer during their meal. Now, Samsung has, as a part of their defence, produced this very clip from the movie as evidence. Fortunately for Samsung, a senior patent lawyer present calls this a ‘viable defence’ in the court of law. Reports suggest that Florian Mueller, a blogger keenly following every move in the Samsung - Apple patent lawsuit was the first to have mentioned on his blog about the possibility of there being a ‘prior art’ influence to the whole design of the tablet computer. 

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?

As a part of its defence, Samsung also cited a scene from the 1970s British TV series, “The Tomorrow People”, which features references to the personal tablet computer. Alternatively, you could watch the clip in question from 2001: A Space Odyssey below. 

With an interesting twist as this to the Apple - Samsung lawsuit, we’re all ears for what is to follow. If you’ve missed updates on the lawsuit, click here.