Motorola wins patent for octagon-shaped smartphone
Forget rounded rectangles, the future is all about the octagon. Or it could be, anyway, with news of Motorola’s latest patent approval. The USPTO has awarded the Google-owned brand a patent for an octagonal smartphone. The design is a bit more specific than Apple’s rectangle patent, which has been the subject of numerous court battles focused on smartphone and tablet design.
Rulings have been mixed when it comes to Apple’s design, but Motorola would likely have an easier time going after those copying the more unique shape. But would any company even both to infringe upon the shape? Is it something we want to see for devices of the future? It could be that Google and Motorola are merely stacking ammunition. Maybe it’s a tongue-in-cheek jab at Apple (though it seems like a lot of effort to go through to simply mock your competition). Regardless, Motorola lays claim to the design now.
[via GigaOM]