I suspect the real problem is related to the ongoing simplification trend that logos have been through for the past decades. Take apple's or pepsi's logo for instance. This minimalist trend results in simple shapes, and there is a finite number of simple shapes out there. So when designing a logo according to this trend(as everyone is doing and have done in the past), you will probably end up with something similar or equal to something else. Not many dimensions to play with.
(Sorry for my English)
(Not so much to user interfaces, though, as there's usually the reverse issue: Too many companies invent their own stuff, mostly at places where is not better but just different and hence annoying. Here, we need more consistency rather than more "creativity", so realy creativity will be applied where it really matters and does good.)
EVERY SINGLE contemporary design is credited to a company (or to "unknown").
EVERY SINGLE early design is credited to a named individual.
Isn't this part of the problem? Companies play it safe; their committees (voluntarily or not) navigate towards the known, vote for things they have seen before.
Would you hire a company to write a novel or a symphony?
If you want original design you should hire a person -- a professional with strong opinions, not a big firm.