No, that's not the point of patents, but unfortunately, the point of patents was kidnapped long ago, and now I feel like someone just threw the key into the ocean.

>Are you saying that Patents prevent fair competition?

Absolutely and unquestionably. I've seem them more used recently to bully and to harass by companies who'd rather litigate than innovate.

Well the point of the patent is that you can sue people who infringe on it. Why can't someone do both? Apple clearly has done both here.

The fact that patents can often be used on common sense or logical shapes, colours or materials in goods is just silly!

Perhaps copyright is better used here, but it's still a fine distinction. Perhaps there were reasons beyond that shapes that required patent filing over copyright.

Apple is an easy company to hate due to their bullish & secretive nature, but Samsung has a history of copying other company's products to gain marketshare. We hate those thieves in china who copy other startups pixel for pixel, but it's okay when Samsung does it?

http://www.techinasia.com/chinese-net-user-steals-game-engin...