Patent on iPhone design invalidated

US patent office Uspto has declared an important patent of Apple invalid. It concerns a patent in which the design of the first iPhone is recorded, Apple also used this patent in the long-running lawsuit against Samsung.

Patent D618,677 describes the design of the first iPhone and includes drawings. The Uspto has rejected the patent in a preliminary ruling on several grounds, reports Foss Patents. One is prior art; the described design would be too similar to patents of competitors in which a similar design is described.

Although the patent was used in the mega case against Samsung, the decision of the Uspto will not affect the fine of 598.9 million dollars that Samsung received. Samsung’s appeal in this case was rejected last week, so the patent rejection will only play a role in that case if the US Supreme Court considers the case and rejects the decision of the federal judges.