details, details
Rectangle with rounded corners - this is a DESIGN patent issue, which is quite different than other patents. You can patent any design as long it has not been done exactly the same before. So yes, a cell phone that is a rectangle with rounded corners, a centered screen, a speaker at one end and a single button at the other end is definitely patentable, as long as no one has done it before. A design patent is only concerned about the physical appearance. Yes, rounded rectangles existed prior to the iPhone, but they didn't patent rounded rectangles no matter what the press says. Tune in again tomorrow and I may indulge you with more of my clear thinking.
