Motorola Gets Mouthy Claiming Samsung Ripped Off Moto Z Active Display Feature

Earlier this year, Samsung introduced a similar feature on its Galaxy S7 family of products called the Always-On-Display (AOD). The AOD was also specifically highlighted by Samsung during the introduction of the well-received Galaxy Note 7, which became available on the retail market earlier this week.

Perhaps not being able to handle all of the positive press being showered upon the Galaxy Note 7, Lenovo fired back via Twitter:

In what galaxy is it okay to steal competitor phones’ cool features? #TheOriginalAlwaysOnDisplay #motozdroid pic.twitter.com/T75byy5bIx

— Moto US (@Moto_USA) August 18, 2016

While it’s true that Motorola first introduced the Active Display back in 2013 on the Moto X, it’s disingenuous to say that it was the originator of the feature. Nokia should get credit for introducing the functionality on its Symbian-based smartphones going back as far as 2009. Likewise, Nokia’s Lumia smartphones running the Windows Phone operating system also incorporated this feature before Motorola/Lenovo introduced it on the Moto X.

One Twitter user was even kind enough to point out this fact:

@Moto_USA HUH? @LumiaUS #windowsphones have had that feature 4 years. Question: why did YOU steal it? #glancescreen pic.twitter.com/Bp1AvE6DnT

— John Yaglenski (@levelbest) August 19, 2016

So in other words, maybe Lenovo should just sit back and just go with the flow. The Active Display is not a Motorola/Lenovo invention and we can’t say that this is clearly a case of Samsung trying to be a copycat with its Galaxy and Galaxy Note family of products. Instead of harping about Active Display, perhaps Motorola should tweet more about those awesome Moto Mods that Dave wrote about in his Moto Z/Moto Z Force review.