In a bizarre patent defense, Samsung points to filmmaker Stanley Kubrick as the original designer of the iPad and not Apple.

The Apple versus Samsung legal drama has taken another strange turn when Samsung cited Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" as the original designer of Apple's iPad. Apple and Samsung have been suing each other all over the world over patent infringements. Apple alleges that Samsung copied its iPad design for Samsung's Galaxy series.

The new evidence from Samsung cites that Kubrick's device in the 1968 movie had the same dimensions, dominant display, and flat front surfaces as Apple's iPad. Samsung is citing prior art as its defense against Apple's allegations. Prior art is basically all information available publicly before a date which might be relevant to a patent's claim of originality. So if Samsung can prove that Kubrick had previously designed the tablet, Apple's patent can be invalidated.

Apple and Samsung's legal wrangling has been a roller coaster for all parties. Apple has won a temporary injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Europe and in Australia. Samsung for its part has claimed that Apple has submitted an edited picture of a Samsung tablet in Germany. Another patent infringement case is running in the U.S. and Samsung filed the reasons for why Apple shouldn't be granted an injunction.

One of Samsung's exhibits is a still image from the Kubrick film and a YouTube clip which shows two astronauts eating and at the same time using personal tablet computers. Another piece of evidence is a scene from the British television series "The Tomorrow People" which also has a tablet computer.

Right now the Samsung Tab 10.1 is currently on sale in the United States with the Galaxy S II phones rumored to be coming in October. Samsung hasn't revealed when the Galaxy Tab might launch in Australia.