Apple is seeking injunctions to stop Samsung from selling its Galaxy Tab in several countries around the world, for infringing on its design patent on the iPad industrial design. Samsung has cited the following clip from 2001: Space Odyssey as evidence that Apple did not uniquely come up with this class of tablet design, that it's been in public space for a very long time.
Though I do think that the Galaxy Tab does look a whole lot like the iPad, I also see the point that Samsung is making. Props too, for reaching into a film prop to support their case! It gives a little boost to designers who make propositional designs; even if the technology does not exist at the time, their ideas can still turn into commercial products far in the future.
