This is the new Lenovo IdeaPad U310 (and U410)

http://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/screen-shot-2012-04-01-at-11-33-49-pm.png?w=657

(9to5mac.com (http://9to5mac.com/2012/04/01/lenovos-laptops-are-looking-less-like-thinkpads-and-more-like-macbook-pros/))

i don't think there is a patient on similar looks.. All Apple can do is threaten the assembly plant [as they did for the asus model] - that they will not use them..
but lenovo is large enough that the plant will say what ever..

At least the power button's on the opposite side :)

Yeah you can't trademark or patent the "look" of something only the brand name or proprietary technology or manufacturing methods, etc.etc.

So while it is an obvious knock off looks wise there is nothing illegal about it... just a bad business move.

You absolutely, 100%, no ifs-ands-or-buts can patent the look of something. I absolutely guarantee you can.

A business can patent a device, a design, a business method, software, a formula, a process, a recipe, an architectural building design and many other ideas.

Apple pays a patent to Amazon.ca for their "One-click to buy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1-Click#Apple_Inc.)" process for the Apple online store.

For design patents, businesses can patent the look, form, and structure of a functional item.

A few things you could patent include designs for jewelry, clothing, furniture, a beverage container, even a computer icon. Thought of a new design for a watch faceplate? A creative outfit? A modern-looking chair? With design patent rights, nobody can use or import your design for 14 years unless you sell or license those rights. A famous design patent is Coca-Cola's unique bottle shape. Pepsi can not sell their product in a bottle the same shape as Coke's.

it's so insanely exact that that can't possibly be legal.

This is the computer designer/engineer equivalent of an artist that just traces other peoples work and makes it their own. I'm actually a bit disgusted by how much of a blatant copy it is.

Since it looks so similar they need to put a "Will not run Mac OS X" disclaimer on the box to protect the ignorant.

You absolutely, 100%, no ifs-ands-or-buts can patent the look of something. I absolutely guarantee you can.

A business can patent a device, a design, a business method, software, a formula, a process, a recipe, an architectural building design and many other ideas.

Apple pays a patent to Amazon.ca for their "One-click to buy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1-Click#Apple_Inc.)" process for the Apple online store.

For design patents, businesses can patent the look, form, and structure of a functional item.

A few things you could patent include designs for jewelry, clothing, furniture, a beverage container, even a computer icon. Thought of a new design for a watch faceplate? A creative outfit? A modern-looking chair? With design patent rights, nobody can use or import your design for 14 years unless you sell or license those rights. A famous design patent is Coca-Cola's unique bottle shape. Pepsi can not sell their product in a bottle the same shape as Coke's.

Ahh I never said design I said look . Many things look like many others but they are not the same there are differences and so long as there are differences good luck with any lawsuit.

The look of something is a very grey area in terms of patent law.

Patentable subject matter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patentable_subject_matter) Often being dependent on jurisdictional differences.

The Amazon case was not about look it was about functionality which is definitely patentable.

it's so insanely exact that that can't possibly be legal.

This is the computer designer/engineer equivalent of an artist that just traces other peoples work and makes it their own. I'm actually a bit disgusted by how much of a blatant copy it is.

Since it looks so similar they need to put a "Will not run Mac OS X" disclaimer on the box to protect the ignorant.

While I tend to agree that it is pretty obviously trying to look like a MacBook Pro it is really hard to tell for sure from a fuzzy photo from only one angle to see how much it actually looks like a MBP. I suspect there would be enough changes to the design to avoid a design patent suit, being that it is Lenovo, but you never know.

maybe ask samsung about that.

HP has a laptop that looks remarkable similar to the MacBook Pro as well. They will all looked dated again though when the new MacBook Pro refresh comes out.

Two things:

1. Some of you guys need to google the concept of "trade dress." You might also want to explore Apple's many, mostly-successful lawsuits on that topic.

2. While that Lenovo does look the same in a photo, I believe I have read that it's silver-coloured plastic rather than actual metal. Is that enough to escape the wrath of Apple's legal team? Time will tell.