Samsung May Be Forced Into Originality ⇒

Nick Wingfield, reporting for the New York Times on the forthcoming verdict in the Apple/Samsung patent case:

If Apple prevails, experts believe Samsung and other rivals in the market will have a much stronger incentive to distinguish their smartphone and tablet products with unique features and designs to avoid further legal tangles.

Making great products that customers connect with, apparently, was never incentive enough.

And if the jury finds in favor of Samsung, its decision could have the opposite effect, creating a consensus around Apple-like designs for years to come. “Expect to see an awful lot of Apple knockoffs without fear of retribution,” said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Gartner, the technology research firm.

What do you mean “expect,” Michael?

If Apple loses, the industry-wide aping of their products will continue at roughtly the same rate it has for years. If Apple wins, Samsung will be forced to ship an original design. Should be fun to see how this plays out.