{
  "patent_number": "US D618677",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "The Design of the Original iPhone 3G",
  "original_title": "USD618677S1 - Electronic device",
  "summary": "A design patent protecting the specific visual appearance and shape of the iPhone 3G as it appeared in 2008.",
  "what_it_does": "This is a design patent, which protects the unique visual characteristics of an object rather than how it functions. It covers the specific ornamental design of the iPhone 3G, including the curvature of its back, the placement of the camera lens, the button layout, and the overall proportions of the device. By claiming the design as shown in the provided drawings, Apple secured legal protection against competitors creating devices that look substantially similar to this specific model.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover the internal hardware, circuitry, or software features of the device.",
    "Does not cover functional aspects like how the touchscreen registers a tap or swipe.",
    "Does not cover devices with different physical dimensions or button placements.",
    "Does not cover the manufacturing process used to create the device casing."
  ],
  "filed": "2008-11-18",
  "granted": "2010-06-29",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Apple Inc",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/apple-inc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Daniele De Iuliis",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/daniele-de-iuliis"
    },
    {
      "name": "Steve Jobs",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/steve-jobs"
    },
    {
      "name": "Douglas B. Satzger",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/douglas-b-satzger"
    },
    {
      "name": "Matthew Dean Rohrbach",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/matthew-dean-rohrbach"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rico Zorkendorfer",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/rico-zorkendorfer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shin Nishibori",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/shin-nishibori"
    },
    {
      "name": "Richard P. Howarth",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/richard-p-howarth"
    },
    {
      "name": "Christopher J. Stringer",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/christopher-j-stringer"
    },
    {
      "name": "Daniel J. Coster",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/daniel-j-coster"
    },
    {
      "name": "Eugene Antony Whang",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/eugene-antony-whang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jonathan P. Ive",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/jonathan-p-ive"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bartley K. Andre",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/bartley-k-andre"
    },
    {
      "name": "Calvin Q. Seid",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/calvin-q-seid"
    },
    {
      "name": "Duncan Robert Kerr",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/duncan-robert-kerr"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 57,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics"
  ],
  "abstract": null,
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/D618677/original-iphone-design",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/D618677/original-iphone-design/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/USD618677",
  "relatedPatents": []
}