Patents : Taking a toll at innovation?

Today technology giants have engaged themselves in a rat race to patent their product elements, covering almost every aspect of it. From the most obvious to something highly innovative in a product, it is patented, crippling further innovation and improvement as well as obtaining a certificate of monopoly over the production. Yes, I'm alluding to the famous patent wars - Samsung vs Apple. First things first. It is a completely neutral idea - inclinded towards neither of the two. But could you ever make a mobile phone and patent its looks? Patenting its flat or curvy contours! Is this all what is left to be patented? A similar patent infringement, among others, has been filed by Apple against Samsung. These quarrels indicate that even the best market players have derailed from the track of innovation. What they are fighting for is market share, revenue, profits and patents. The temple of innovation that Steve Jobs made of Apple is now squabbling over paltry issues. Should not be these IT goliaths be aspiring to crack bigger innovations and develop smarter technology rather than undoing products made by other companies and trying hard to figure out what to accuse it of as a violation of some patent.