To elaborate, let's rewind about 10 years and say that Steve Jobs was releasing the first iPhone with a touchscreen that turns in the direction that the phone is handled.
Could it have been possible to patent the concept of operating a screen by touching it, and the concept of the screen turning to face whichever the direction the device is turned so as to prevent competitors from duplicating their own product that does the same basic thing, just under another brand with another operating system?
This is what I have noticed about the IT industry--anytime someone comes out with a popular item that is selling at a high rate, competitor begin duplicating the product with a modifed version of their own. How does one stop a competitor from mimicking their product?
Read more: https://iphoneus.org/faq/is-it-possible-to-patent-a-concept-of-a-released.html