Did Apple Steal The iPhone Design From LG?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Maybe more.

Apple’s iPhone is a picture of elegant design and seamless functionality. Love it or hate it, everyone wants something like it.

Like it? Similar to? A clone of? Hmmmm. Did Apple steal iPhone designs from LG’s Prada phone or the OpenMoko? Or both?

The iPhone rocked the consumer electronics world last week and garnered rave reviews as Steve Jobs declared, “Apple reinvents the phone.”

In the days following iPhone’s introduction, hundreds of question and answer sessions stormed the internet, newspaper, television.

The iPhone was praised for taking design to new levels of user friendly functionality.

Then, sharp-eyed techno readers found a few similarities between the iPhone and LG’s Prada phone and the OpenMoko phone. Uh oh.

Did Apple steal obvious design elements from LG and OpenMoko?

To be fair, there are obvious and immediate similarities as well as striking differences between the devices. Only Apple’s iPhone contains a wide screen iPod.

OpenMoko’s form factor, though similar, remains notably different. OpenMoko’s icons more resemble an Ubuntu Linux screen than the iPod’s candy-like buttons.

The screen is much larger on the iPhone. OpenMoko software is limited to a dialer, contacts, a calendar, an applications manager, and a few other utilities.

Inside, there are plenty of differences. OpenMoko has limited memory compared to the iPhone, but has a micro-sd slot and USB connector.

The LG Prada phone carries a form factor strikingly similar to that of the iPhone, and uses a touch screen for dialing and navigation.

The Korea Times article points out that the LG phone is not yet on the market, though it won the International Forum Design Product Design Award for 2007.

It should also be noted that all three phones are not available for purchase.

Did Apple steal design elements from the LG Prada phone and the OpenMoko? Some similarities are remarkable. As always, your perspective and opinion can be voiced in the Comments section below.