[antiRepublicrat]

Patenting a "shape" of a material for a function is absurd. I'm going to run right out and patent the same shape on every form of metal and acrylic I can find, then charge for their use in another product. It's the same thing.

No, it is not the same thing. The use has to be for the exact same kind of product that competes with the patented one. Design patents are like trademark, very specific for the market at hand. Or would you like to work hard to develop a product, produce an iconic shape instantly recognizable as your product worldwide, then have a competitor come out with something that looks the same and confuses customers into buying their product instead of yours?

Above all, this is a case of US innovation vs. the Asian copycats. It happens in many industries, ad I'm glad to see it dealt a blow again.

[usconservative]

No, it is not the same thing. The use has to be for the exact same kind of product that competes with the patented one.

Really appreciate your clarification, however I do still find it absurd that "curved glass" on a tablet can be patented, and by that will be stifling innovation where it matters most - the technology.