In October of 2012, Apple was issued a patent for the Spiral UI for its venerable iTunes program, and more recently a patent for the Mac Mini and its related technical aspects. However, in July of 2013, Samsung was issued patents that seem like a direct copy of Apple's Spiral and Mini devices. This is not the first time Samsung and Apple have gone to court for copyright infringement. TechRadar reports Samsung has lost multiple cases against Apple worldwide, including a particularly high-profile case in the UK that would have netted Samsung millions in royalties a year.

These cases, and cases similar to them, raise questions about the nature of innovation in the fast-moving world of mobile device design. What constitutes innovation? Can anything be truly unique in the world of mobile devices?

Samsung Versus Apple: Two Titans 

Samsung is often lauded as an innovator, but in reality, Samsung is really more like a hip teenager — capable of catching trends as they appear, and taking them to the next level more quickly than their competitors. Samsung's teams are adept at watching the market and adapting to rapidly produce an alternative to a recent innovation. The Note is a prime example of what Samsung does best. The New York Times reports that Samsung determined that its Asian markets wanted mobile devices that featured direct drawing, because writing characters with a pen-like device was much easier than punching them into a little on-screen keyboard. Samsung responded with a cross between a smartphone and a tablet, the Note, which has been a hit across Asia.

Samsung has the money to conduct massive market research. Apple, on the other hand, spends significantly less on market research. Steve Jobs once famously said, “People don't know what they want until you show it to them.” Apple doesn't actually produce many of the components that make up mobile devices themselves, where Samsung is the world's largest chip manufacturer. In contrast, Apple has a sophisticated supply chain that provides it with not only access to technologies that are years ahead of its competitors, but also with discounted rates when the competition catches up, reports Business Insider. Samsung is an up-and-comer eating a large portion of Apple's share, but how much of it is smart business, and how much of it is really theft? According to Reuters, Apple first alleged that Samsung copied its iPhone and iPad designs in 2011, and for years, the two companies have dragged each other to court, claiming copyright infringements. Is Apple a true innovator?

Apple Copies Everyone, Everyone Copies Apple 

Apple's iOS 7 is on the way, and the sneak peek is garnering mixed reviews. A chief complaint of the new operating system is that it feels like a mash-up of every mobile operating system on the market. With its large digital clock, Google Chrome-esque Web panels, and swipe-based gestures, ZDNet claims that the new iOS seems suspiciously similar to Android.

It should come as no surprise if that is the case. DigitalTrends reports that Android devices dominate the European markets, with a staggering 70 percent of the market, while iOS comes in second, with a measly 17.3 percent share. The iOS trails the Android by just a few points in the American markets, so if Apple takes a cue from Samsung and follows the competition closely, it could spell marketwide success. Does this mean Apple is a copycat, or is the company developing the same fast-thinking trend following that Samsung seems to have perfected?

The answer isn't black and white. Copycat design ranges from third-party micro-manufacturers copying the accessories for LG phones, to massive corporations trying to spin the next innovation as their own. For example, the NYTimes Bits blog reports that Samsung plans to offer a device that would allow consumers to upgrade the software of their Samsung-manufactured televisions, extending the average 6.7-year lifespan of an American TV. These upgrades would be much less expensive than a new TV, and allow users to watch shows, stream video on demand, utilize social media, and allow your TV to suggest programming based on what you already like. As innovative as it all sounds, the idea of television telling you what to watch isn't new at all. The earliest TiVo devices developed in 1998 digitally recorded television shows the user might enjoy, based on previously watched shows. Is Samsung innovating the television, or are they simply re-branding a trend it missed the first time around?

Seeing how Samsung tracks and researches the market, it's possible its research teams know something they aren't sharing. The “iTV” has been a popular speculation of market-watchers since 2009, and MacWorld reports that various analysts claim the prototypes are on their way to production this year. Perhaps Samsung is paying better attention to the market's needs than Apple, or maybe it just heard about the iTV, and thought it was a good idea.