Judge rules out Samsung’s ‘Kubrick did the iPad before Apple’ patent defense

Samsung will not be able to argue that Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey contains a device so much like the iPad that it renders Apple’s patents void, reports Ina Fried at All Things D. The ruling was issued by Judge Lucy Koh today as part of a variety of restrictions and notices with regards to what Samsung will and won’t be allowed to argue in the case.

The declaration, which was issued by Samsung back in August of 2011, was a still image taken from the 1968 film in which two astronauts are eating and using tablet computers. It relates to the D’889 Patent related to the rectangular design of the iPad, dominated by a screen.

Judge Koh says that Samsung cannot utilize that piece of evidence, although it can use the Fidler and Compaq tablets to argue its point. Both of those devices also predate the iPad, though they didn’t exist only in a sci-fi flick.

You can see the 2001 tablets ‘in action’ in the clip below:

Many of us who are fans of 2001, have drawn the comparison before. In fact, many films have shown off a tablet-like device that displays information to its users. One of the most famous is the PADD device in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Not to mention the appearance of a very ‘iPad-like’ device in the Jobs-owned Pixar production The Incredibles.

Koh also ruled out evidence related to 70’s British children’s sci-fi series The Tomorrow People.

The case is ongoing, with hearings starting Friday that will feature testimony from Apple’s Phil Schiller and possibly Scott Forstall. For more on the Apple v. Samsung trial, check out our roundup of the action so far and stay tuned to TNW’s Apple channel for more.