I don't speak for Apple. I think those are bullshit.

They are also mostly over.

When the litigation attorney for Samsung can't tell the difference between the two devices in open court, they might have gone a little too far in copying the iPad's design..

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/14/us-apple-samsung-l...

From that article:

> Koh frequently remarked on the similarity between each company's tablets. At one point during the hearing, she held one black glass tablet in each hand above her head, and asked Sullivan if she could identify which company produced which.

> "Not at this distance your honor," said Sullivan, who stood at a podium roughly ten feet away.

I get what you're saying, but they were asked to tell the difference over an unspecified distance.

Since the companies adopted the slab form factor for the devices. all smartphone and tablets look the same esp. from the front.

I don't see this argument holding water and it seems to me that my interlocutor is comfortable with Apple stealing/copying other people's work but when they do to Apple it's all hell breaks loose, double standards maybe?