"Samsung has not (historically at least) been aggressive with patents."It's Samsung at the top, then LGE (which Apple was often accused of copying -- design-wise -- when it first introduced the iPhone). Both are Korean companies and one comment rightly points out: "One might not be surprised to notice Samsung highly aware of the potent properties of design patents." Samsung currently challenges the potency of such patents, taking it all the way up to the Supreme Court. If anything, this may indicate that Samsung only begrudgingly patents designs, maybe in the hope of leveling these for defensive purposes when companies like Apple strike (with nuclear connotations). Samsung has not (historically at least) been aggressive with patents.
“A Federal Circuit ruling has placed Coleman Co. in a stronger position to sue a competitor for infringement of its design patent relating to personal flotation devices.”
--Bloomberg BNAHarness, Dickey & Pierce, PLC, a lawyers' firm (obviously), has just published this article about design patent constriction as figures about design patents suggest a sharp increase amid a SCOTUS case about/against it. As we explained here a few times before, many design patents are similar and related to software patents (interfaces in particular). Their very existence is challenged in courts again, as this new article serves to show. It seems as though once again it's CAFC deciding on the matter. To quote: "A Federal Circuit ruling has placed Coleman Co. in a stronger position to sue a competitor for infringement of its design patent relating to personal flotation devices."
The fate of design patents has billions at stake; not just billions of dollars/pounds/yen but also billions of people. ⬆