The Samsung/Apple issue is bull in my opinion. Why aren't Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway, Acer, etc all suing each other because their PCs look and act the same?

Should Ford sue Chevy because their engines run the same way and look the same?

Point being, with a smartphone or tablet, its a giant touch screen and a backing with parts inside. Icon layout is the same on PCs, Android, iOS, Macs, Linux, etc. There just aren't that many different ways you can make it other than changing dimensions and actual hardware used, which Samsung has done.

If apple invented the wheel, does everyone else have to figure out how to create something different, or another shape to put on a bicycle?

There are so many examples that can work here to compare. In my opinion, like many others, Apple just can't compete so they get as many stupid features patented as possible to stop others from innovating and keeping them ahead of the competition.