My argument is mostly about this bit "Samsung ... brought it to market before the iPhone".

Also, I saw Korean patent reference in the article I've linked to. There is no proof of that patent. Korea patent search [1] probably broken. Doesn't return any phone patents or design patents applied for in December 2006

[1]http://detseng.kipris.or.kr/ndetsen/loin1000a.do?method=logi...