6 ms·

Apple awarded design patent for actual rounded rectangle

82 points by Reltair 14y ago

TheCapn 14y ago
"A design patent may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture." [Source: http://www.uspto.gov/main/faq/index.html http://www.uspto.gov/main/faq/index.html] I really try to be objective when reading things about this as I'm fairly negative when it comes to Apple and Patent discussion but can someone possibly more impartial explain the validity of this application to me? The quote above itself seems pretty clear that neither a new or original idea has been presented here.
- beatgammit 14y ago
  I completely agree. A quick image search for "Star Trek tablet" shows rounded corners, not to mention that many books for young children (babies and toddlers) feature rounded corners. It seems an obvious design, especially since screens are currently rectangular, for ergonomic use. Even my laptop screen has rounded corners (purchased 2009). I can understand if they filed for specific dimensions. I would agree that copying the dimensions of an iPad (within 1/8 inch or so) would be blatant patent infringement. I didn't read the patent, so I don't know if this is, in fact, what the patent details.
- rayiner 14y ago
  It makes more sense in the context of the top post referencing how narrow design patents are. It also makes more sense to think of them as being more about branding/trademark than patent. So it's novel in the sense that nothing previously looked literally like an iPad. That narrow level of novelty also defines the narrow scope of the protection.
  - piyush_soni 14y ago
    But this design patent would still make sense (I mean I'd still fight myself to do, but eventually I'll settle with that) if all the lines were unbroken in that. But as you can see, the only solid line there is the rounded rectangle. That means, they've got exclusive design right to make tablets with rounded rectangles. What am I missing (a genuine question).
barista 14y ago
I bet they could not get a patent for rounded square, or squircle, because Zune already had it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune_Pad http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune_Pad
angersock 14y ago
The system works! The underdog's vital and unique IP, heretofore unimaginable and unprotected, has been safeguarded! We've ensured the creative process will continue unabated!
sabret00the 14y ago
I notice that the Editor's pick comment notes how Microsoft have one for the Xbox and Lucas Arts has one for Yoda. Both are in fact original designs, the iPad on the other hand doesn't fall into that category. This is another case of the USPTO failing for me.
rorrr 14y ago
There's a ton of prior art, how the hell did they get it? http://cdn.overclock.net/8/89/350x700px-LL-890c9df4_lg-prada-2.jpeg http://cdn.overclock.net/8/89/350x700px-LL-890c9df4_lg-prada... http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4951/width/350/height/700 http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4951/width/350/he... http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4952/width/350/height/700 http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4952/width/350/he... http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4950/width/500/height/1000 http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4950/width/500/he...
- beatgammit 14y ago
  My laptop (purchased 2009) features rounded corners, as does pretty much every laptop, ever. Don't have to look that far...
- sneak 14y ago
  http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_Everywhere.txt http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_E...
jccc 14y ago
The first comment on Ars Technica FWIW: (I take no stand, have no expertise, just posting someone's sober response so it'll be seen here.) I think most people don't understand what it means that this is a design patent - it's not the same thing as a "regular" patent (a utility patent). Design patents allow a company to get an exclusive right to the form of a functional object so that a 3rd party can't make a different device with identical appearance (well, not legally at least). Almost every company that puts the time into making a distinctive shape for their devices gets one: Microsoft has one for the Xbox, George Lucas got one for Yoda etc. Design patents are extremely narrow - you have to do your level best to copy them exactly in order to be found in infringement. Plus, they specifically cannot cover functionality - that has to be covered by a utility patent, if it's going to be protected. This design patent only protects a "portable display device" (that's the wording in the Patent itself), and only one with those specific design elements that are shown in the Patent Figures. I'd be shocked if Apple hadn't applied for design patents for all of its devices. This really isn't an issue." http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/11/apple-awarded-design-patent-for-actual-rounded-rectangle/?comments=1&post=23471953#comment-23471953 http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/11/apple-awarded-design-pa...
- nicholassmith 14y ago
  Its just easier for people to go "Apple got a design patent for a ROUNDED RECT?!" rather than understand the actual situation. Design patents aren't all that bad compared to some of the more ridiculous ones that get thrown out, and if you're making hardware or something with a unique design they're useful.
- numbchuckskills 14y ago
  check out figure 4: http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=D0670286&PageNum=13&IDKey=A073B1C95087&HomeUrl=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2%2526Sect2=HITOFF%2526p=1%2526u=%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-bool.html%2526r=1%2526f=G%2526l=50%2526co1=AND%2526d=PTXT%2526s1=D670,286%2526OS=D670,286%2526RS=D670,286 http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=D0670286&PageNum=13&...
- Natsu 14y ago
  > This design patent only protects a "portable display device" (that's the wording in the Patent itself), and only one with those specific design elements that are shown in the Patent Figures. The article also states, "The only unbroken line in all the figures is the outline of the flat, rounded rectangular front face of the device. All the other identifiable features, such as the speaker grille, round home button, display size, Dock connector, or even its curved back, are not covered by this design patent." So the problem is what design elements are shown, exactly, in this highly-minimalist design? I see a rectangle with rounded corners and a black border with a camera in the top center. I'm not quite sure about the camera, though, it's so small I can't see if there are dashed lines or not, so it might or might not be claimed, but there are only so many sensible places to put a camera--you'd naturally put it in the middle of one side or another and if you expect it to take pictures of people, the short side is the only reasonable side. We've previously mentioned that the rounded corners are not quite purely ornamental--they help keep the device from breaking when it's dropped on the corner. So that leaves us with what, just a black border? And even that has some arguable utility because you want a neutral color so as not to clash with whatever is on screen. So... what are we patenting here again?
Shivetya 14y ago
Perhaps taken as a whole, with home button at bottom and camera at top when in portrait could be the extent of what this protects?
- piyush_soni 14y ago
  But the patent explicitly says those things (dashed lines) are not covered in this patent.
jhuckestein 14y ago
They got a design patent for the iPad's design. Not for a rounded rectangle. Comp the first comment on arstechnica that jccc posted here.
- piyush_soni 14y ago
  I still don't understand what's special about that design. Again, as the link says, the only unbroken line is that the front face is made like a rounded rectangle.
  - enraged_camel 14y ago
    >>I still don't understand what's special about that design. Jonathan Ive said it best: great design looks obvious in hindsight. edit: Gotta love the downvotes. Must have hit a soft spot. :)
    - piyush_soni 14y ago
      So just confirming, you really, REALLY think rounded rectangle was a great design innovation by Apple God, which now looks obvious in hindsight right? I love how people think they get downvotes only because they hit some hypothetical soft spot. :)
      - enraged_camel 14y ago
        The rounded rectangle was NOT the design innovation. That's a strawman thrown around by people who don't understand what a design patent is.
        piyush_soni 14y ago
        It really seems you understand design patents more than many out here. Care to explain, what does it cover more than the rounded rectangle? (I hope you read the patent before commenting).
mkhpalm 14y ago
The USPTO seems to be focused on moving Silicone Valley to Asia. And the Bay Area is focused on becoming the next Detroit.
monochromatic 14y ago
I came here expecting a lot of nonsense from people confusing design patents with utility patents. There's a bit of that, but most comments seem to get it. Well done, HN. I knew there was a reason I deleted my reddit account.
zerostar07 14y ago
On a related subject, are rounded rectangles so aesthetic to everyone? I think they used to be popular in the 50s, and apple revived them with brushed aluminum, but now we see them all over the web too. They bring to my mind old CRT televisions which is kinda kitsch imho.
- jccc 14y ago
  Apple revived them with the original Macintosh: http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_Everywhere.txt http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_E...
  - jccc 14y ago
    (Not that I'm saying I like 'em.)
- esolyt 14y ago
  For a tablet, rounded rectangle seems to be the best shape in my opinion. Because you wouldn't want sharp corners if you want to be able to hold it comfortably.
  - zerostar07 14y ago
    Sure, but apple's rounded corners are much larger than safety smoothing. Somebody likes those curves too much.
uvdiv 14y ago
It's not a rectangle, it's clearly either an iPad or Galaxy Tab. It's a rectangular slab of particular dimensions/proportions, rounded corners of a particular curvature, and a 4-sided front bezel of a particular, uniform width. In combination it's immediately recognizable as an iPad or iPad mimic. If it were a rounded rectangle being patented, then the patent would look like this [0], not like that [1]. [0] is not recognizably an iPad. [0] http://mathworld.wolfram.com/images/eps-gif/RoundedRectangle_1000.gif http://mathworld.wolfram.com/images/eps-gif/RoundedRectangle... [1] http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/D607286_patent_figure-640x327.png http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/D60728... full disclosure: I'm not "pro-Apple" in this case, I own a Galaxy Tab 10.1, and think design patents are a silly thing to enforce.
- piyush_soni 14y ago
  Considering the ONLY UNBROKEN line in the patent, I don't see much difference in the two images you've shared, except that one [1] is shown in perspective 3D (and some color differences).
  - overcyn 14y ago
    Why are you considering only the unbroken line when theres obviously more than that? The patent is for the entire thing. Considering just the outline, the nest thermostat is just a circle. Considering just the first ten minutes, Up is a movie about a couple growing old together. This isn't a pick and choose thing.
    - piyush_soni 14y ago
      It would have been better if before writing all super-intelligent stuff you had actually read the article or the patent, which explicitly says broken lines are not included in the claimed design. That's the whole point of that article.
      - overcyn 14y ago
        Guilty.
smegel 14y ago
So what exactly would you expect a design patent for the iPad to look like?
- wmf 14y ago
  It would have solid lines instead of dashed for the shape of the case, the home button, etc.
- artsrc 14y ago
  The default in the intellectual property world should be that there is no protection. Perhaps the manufacturing process by which the device can be made so thin is original. The physical design of the iPad is not original enough to justify any patent protection, i.e.: none is in the interests of consumers. It is quite plain, and quite similar to other devices.
geetee 14y ago
All of a sudden Battlestar Galactica paper makes sense.
CrankyPants 14y ago
Apple's latest iPad-related design patent is literally for the rounded rectangular front outlined in solid black. Unfortunate use of the word "literally." Anyway, this is what a rounded rectangle looks like: http://www.enfoportals.com/index_image953.png http://www.enfoportals.com/index_image953.png I don't see a third dimension, a button, a connector, a camera, a screen, speaker holes, and so on. The current state of patents, design or otherwise, seems to be at new heights of stupidity. But this article–below the standard Ars usually lives up to, title, body content, and all–makes me wonder if the thoughtlessness of discourse on the subject isn't also setting some new records.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
sneak 14y ago
http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_Everywhere.txt http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_E... > Steve suddenly got more intense. "Rectangles with rounded corners are everywhere! Just look around this room!". And sure enough, there were lots of them, like the whiteboard and some of the desks and tables. Then he pointed out the window. "And look outside, there's even more, practically everywhere you look!". He even persuaded Bill to take a quick walk around the block with him, pointing out every rectangle with rounded corners that he could find.
Zenst 14y ago
So does this mean Apple will now be competing in the medical plaster market or perhaps going back in time to compete with 1920 Rolex watch's or some other swiss watch maker. Rounding corners is also staple children toy design mentality and common health and safty. Does this mean non Apple tablet will now have to have sharp pointy edges as from that perspective, this is again another crazy move in the land of common sence. What next, cars now have to have square wheels as Apple obtains patent upon compressed rounded rectangles. I think I'm joking but had I read this upon the Onion I would of laughed, but nowadays the Onion seems too tame in contrast to actualy happening news, worrying times. I'm now off to sharpen the corners upon my old collectiuon of CRT based TV's, utterly pointless but it is the law (sorry joke just had to get out somehow).

82 points by Reltair 14y ago

"A design patent may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture." [Source: http://www.uspto.gov/main/faq/index.html http://www.uspto.gov/main/faq/index.html] I really try to be objective when reading things about this as I'm fairly negative when it comes to Apple and Patent discussion but can someone possibly more impartial explain the validity of this application to me? The quote above itself seems pretty clear that neither a new or original idea has been presented here.

beatgammit 14y ago
I completely agree. A quick image search for "Star Trek tablet" shows rounded corners, not to mention that many books for young children (babies and toddlers) feature rounded corners. It seems an obvious design, especially since screens are currently rectangular, for ergonomic use. Even my laptop screen has rounded corners (purchased 2009). I can understand if they filed for specific dimensions. I would agree that copying the dimensions of an iPad (within 1/8 inch or so) would be blatant patent infringement. I didn't read the patent, so I don't know if this is, in fact, what the patent details.
rayiner 14y ago
It makes more sense in the context of the top post referencing how narrow design patents are. It also makes more sense to think of them as being more about branding/trademark than patent. So it's novel in the sense that nothing previously looked literally like an iPad. That narrow level of novelty also defines the narrow scope of the protection.
- piyush_soni 14y ago
  But this design patent would still make sense (I mean I'd still fight myself to do, but eventually I'll settle with that) if all the lines were unbroken in that. But as you can see, the only solid line there is the rounded rectangle. That means, they've got exclusive design right to make tablets with rounded rectangles. What am I missing (a genuine question).

barista 14y ago

I bet they could not get a patent for rounded square, or squircle, because Zune already had it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune_Pad http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune_Pad

angersock 14y ago

The system works! The underdog's vital and unique IP, heretofore unimaginable and unprotected, has been safeguarded! We've ensured the creative process will continue unabated!

sabret00the 14y ago

I notice that the Editor's pick comment notes how Microsoft have one for the Xbox and Lucas Arts has one for Yoda. Both are in fact original designs, the iPad on the other hand doesn't fall into that category. This is another case of the USPTO failing for me.

rorrr 14y ago

There's a ton of prior art, how the hell did they get it? http://cdn.overclock.net/8/89/350x700px-LL-890c9df4_lg-prada-2.jpeg http://cdn.overclock.net/8/89/350x700px-LL-890c9df4_lg-prada... http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4951/width/350/height/700 http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4951/width/350/he... http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4952/width/350/height/700 http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4952/width/350/he... http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4950/width/500/height/1000 http://forums.macnn.com/content/type/61/id/4950/width/500/he...

beatgammit 14y ago
My laptop (purchased 2009) features rounded corners, as does pretty much every laptop, ever. Don't have to look that far...
sneak 14y ago
http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_Everywhere.txt http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_E...

jccc 14y ago

The first comment on Ars Technica FWIW: (I take no stand, have no expertise, just posting someone's sober response so it'll be seen here.) I think most people don't understand what it means that this is a design patent - it's not the same thing as a "regular" patent (a utility patent). Design patents allow a company to get an exclusive right to the form of a functional object so that a 3rd party can't make a different device with identical appearance (well, not legally at least). Almost every company that puts the time into making a distinctive shape for their devices gets one: Microsoft has one for the Xbox, George Lucas got one for Yoda etc. Design patents are extremely narrow - you have to do your level best to copy them exactly in order to be found in infringement. Plus, they specifically cannot cover functionality - that has to be covered by a utility patent, if it's going to be protected. This design patent only protects a "portable display device" (that's the wording in the Patent itself), and only one with those specific design elements that are shown in the Patent Figures. I'd be shocked if Apple hadn't applied for design patents for all of its devices. This really isn't an issue." http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/11/apple-awarded-design-patent-for-actual-rounded-rectangle/?comments=1&post=23471953#comment-23471953 http://arstechnica.com/apple/2012/11/apple-awarded-design-pa...

nicholassmith 14y ago
Its just easier for people to go "Apple got a design patent for a ROUNDED RECT?!" rather than understand the actual situation. Design patents aren't all that bad compared to some of the more ridiculous ones that get thrown out, and if you're making hardware or something with a unique design they're useful.
numbchuckskills 14y ago
check out figure 4: http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=D0670286&PageNum=13&IDKey=A073B1C95087&HomeUrl=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2%2526Sect2=HITOFF%2526p=1%2526u=%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsearch-bool.html%2526r=1%2526f=G%2526l=50%2526co1=AND%2526d=PTXT%2526s1=D670,286%2526OS=D670,286%2526RS=D670,286 http://patimg2.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=D0670286&PageNum=13&...
Natsu 14y ago
> This design patent only protects a "portable display device" (that's the wording in the Patent itself), and only one with those specific design elements that are shown in the Patent Figures. The article also states, "The only unbroken line in all the figures is the outline of the flat, rounded rectangular front face of the device. All the other identifiable features, such as the speaker grille, round home button, display size, Dock connector, or even its curved back, are not covered by this design patent." So the problem is what design elements are shown, exactly, in this highly-minimalist design? I see a rectangle with rounded corners and a black border with a camera in the top center. I'm not quite sure about the camera, though, it's so small I can't see if there are dashed lines or not, so it might or might not be claimed, but there are only so many sensible places to put a camera--you'd naturally put it in the middle of one side or another and if you expect it to take pictures of people, the short side is the only reasonable side. We've previously mentioned that the rounded corners are not quite purely ornamental--they help keep the device from breaking when it's dropped on the corner. So that leaves us with what, just a black border? And even that has some arguable utility because you want a neutral color so as not to clash with whatever is on screen. So... what are we patenting here again?

Shivetya 14y ago

Perhaps taken as a whole, with home button at bottom and camera at top when in portrait could be the extent of what this protects?

piyush_soni 14y ago
But the patent explicitly says those things (dashed lines) are not covered in this patent.

jhuckestein 14y ago

They got a design patent for the iPad's design. Not for a rounded rectangle. Comp the first comment on arstechnica that jccc posted here.

piyush_soni 14y ago
I still don't understand what's special about that design. Again, as the link says, the only unbroken line is that the front face is made like a rounded rectangle.
- enraged_camel 14y ago
  >>I still don't understand what's special about that design. Jonathan Ive said it best: great design looks obvious in hindsight. edit: Gotta love the downvotes. Must have hit a soft spot. :)
  - piyush_soni 14y ago
    So just confirming, you really, REALLY think rounded rectangle was a great design innovation by Apple God, which now looks obvious in hindsight right? I love how people think they get downvotes only because they hit some hypothetical soft spot. :)
    - enraged_camel 14y ago
      The rounded rectangle was NOT the design innovation. That's a strawman thrown around by people who don't understand what a design patent is.
      - piyush_soni 14y ago
        It really seems you understand design patents more than many out here. Care to explain, what does it cover more than the rounded rectangle? (I hope you read the patent before commenting).

mkhpalm 14y ago

The USPTO seems to be focused on moving Silicone Valley to Asia. And the Bay Area is focused on becoming the next Detroit.

monochromatic 14y ago

I came here expecting a lot of nonsense from people confusing design patents with utility patents. There's a bit of that, but most comments seem to get it. Well done, HN. I knew there was a reason I deleted my reddit account.

zerostar07 14y ago

On a related subject, are rounded rectangles so aesthetic to everyone? I think they used to be popular in the 50s, and apple revived them with brushed aluminum, but now we see them all over the web too. They bring to my mind old CRT televisions which is kinda kitsch imho.

jccc 14y ago
Apple revived them with the original Macintosh: http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_Everywhere.txt http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_E...
- jccc 14y ago
  (Not that I'm saying I like 'em.)
esolyt 14y ago
For a tablet, rounded rectangle seems to be the best shape in my opinion. Because you wouldn't want sharp corners if you want to be able to hold it comfortably.
- zerostar07 14y ago
  Sure, but apple's rounded corners are much larger than safety smoothing. Somebody likes those curves too much.

uvdiv 14y ago

It's not a rectangle, it's clearly either an iPad or Galaxy Tab. It's a rectangular slab of particular dimensions/proportions, rounded corners of a particular curvature, and a 4-sided front bezel of a particular, uniform width. In combination it's immediately recognizable as an iPad or iPad mimic. If it were a rounded rectangle being patented, then the patent would look like this [0], not like that [1]. [0] is not recognizably an iPad. [0] http://mathworld.wolfram.com/images/eps-gif/RoundedRectangle_1000.gif http://mathworld.wolfram.com/images/eps-gif/RoundedRectangle... [1] http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/D607286_patent_figure-640x327.png http://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/D60728... full disclosure: I'm not "pro-Apple" in this case, I own a Galaxy Tab 10.1, and think design patents are a silly thing to enforce.

piyush_soni 14y ago
Considering the ONLY UNBROKEN line in the patent, I don't see much difference in the two images you've shared, except that one [1] is shown in perspective 3D (and some color differences).
- overcyn 14y ago
  Why are you considering only the unbroken line when theres obviously more than that? The patent is for the entire thing. Considering just the outline, the nest thermostat is just a circle. Considering just the first ten minutes, Up is a movie about a couple growing old together. This isn't a pick and choose thing.
  - piyush_soni 14y ago
    It would have been better if before writing all super-intelligent stuff you had actually read the article or the patent, which explicitly says broken lines are not included in the claimed design. That's the whole point of that article.
    - overcyn 14y ago
      Guilty.

smegel 14y ago

So what exactly would you expect a design patent for the iPad to look like?

wmf 14y ago
It would have solid lines instead of dashed for the shape of the case, the home button, etc.
artsrc 14y ago
The default in the intellectual property world should be that there is no protection. Perhaps the manufacturing process by which the device can be made so thin is original. The physical design of the iPad is not original enough to justify any patent protection, i.e.: none is in the interests of consumers. It is quite plain, and quite similar to other devices.

geetee 14y ago

All of a sudden Battlestar Galactica paper makes sense.

CrankyPants 14y ago

Apple's latest iPad-related design patent is literally for the rounded rectangular front outlined in solid black. Unfortunate use of the word "literally." Anyway, this is what a rounded rectangle looks like: http://www.enfoportals.com/index_image953.png http://www.enfoportals.com/index_image953.png I don't see a third dimension, a button, a connector, a camera, a screen, speaker holes, and so on. The current state of patents, design or otherwise, seems to be at new heights of stupidity. But this article–below the standard Ars usually lives up to, title, body content, and all–makes me wonder if the thoughtlessness of discourse on the subject isn't also setting some new records.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]

sneak 14y ago

http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_Everywhere.txt http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?story=Round_Rects_Are_E... > Steve suddenly got more intense. "Rectangles with rounded corners are everywhere! Just look around this room!". And sure enough, there were lots of them, like the whiteboard and some of the desks and tables. Then he pointed out the window. "And look outside, there's even more, practically everywhere you look!". He even persuaded Bill to take a quick walk around the block with him, pointing out every rectangle with rounded corners that he could find.

Zenst 14y ago

So does this mean Apple will now be competing in the medical plaster market or perhaps going back in time to compete with 1920 Rolex watch's or some other swiss watch maker. Rounding corners is also staple children toy design mentality and common health and safty. Does this mean non Apple tablet will now have to have sharp pointy edges as from that perspective, this is again another crazy move in the land of common sence. What next, cars now have to have square wheels as Apple obtains patent upon compressed rounded rectangles. I think I'm joking but had I read this upon the Onion I would of laughed, but nowadays the Onion seems too tame in contrast to actualy happening news, worrying times. I'm now off to sharpen the corners upon my old collectiuon of CRT based TV's, utterly pointless but it is the law (sorry joke just had to get out somehow).