Snippet: Inspiration for Apple’s iPad Clock App ☇

Jordan Golson for MacRumors:

Switzerland’s Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, or Swiss Federal Railway service, has accused Apple of using their iconic clock in its Clock app for iPad without permission, according to a report in the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger.

The clock, designed by Hans Hilfiker, has become an icon of both the Swiss railway and of Switzerland itself. The trademark and copyright for the clock is owned by the Swiss Federal Railway service.

Although it may not have been intentional (we all know Apple loves minimalist and iconic skeumorphic items), the image in Golson’s post makes it seem rather obvious where Apple drew its inspiration from. In this case, Apple should do the right thing and license it before it becomes a bit of a pot/kettle situation after the Samsung trial. While they’re at it, they ought to bring it over to the iPhone version of the Clock app.