This article misses the point. The copyright infringement suit has nothing to do with interactivity. Apple has designed a rectangular thin device with a screen and rounded edges, and is claiming it is an original design. Original enough to get a design patent. Samsung is saying that the design can't be that original, because a 'similar' design was built prior to the existence of the ipad.
“if, in the eye of the ordinary observer, giving such attention as a purchaser usually gives, two designs are substantially the same, if the resemblance is such as to deceive such an observer, inducing him to purchase one supposing it to be the other, the first one patented is infringed by the other.” (Gorham Co. v. White, 81 U.S. 511, 528 (1871)) (From http://www.applepatent.com/2011/04/apple-v-samsung-design-pa...).
The patents are actually on the iphone, but in light of the '2001 pads, rectangular thin pad like devices with display areas across nearly the entire front are not novel.
