Apple-Samsung Lawsuit Focused on iPhone and iPad Look, Android Software Features: Google Mediation Might Mean Settlement in 'Patent War' Trial
Lawsuit issues between Apple and Samsung are nothing new as the two vie for shares of the same market. This time, they are not arguing about hardware, but software patents. Reports focus on the potential involvement of Google, because Samsung argues that four of the five infringement complaints of Apple are related to general features of Android, Google's operating system. Engineers of the search engine giant are said to be testifying in defense of Samsung.
The original lawsuit by Apple against Samsung included design patents. Unlike the ones filed by Apple with other vendors such as Motorola and HTC, Apple said that Samsung ripped off the feel and look of both the iPhone and iPad, and not just some features. A jury found that Samsung was guilty of infringing design patents of Apple for smartphones and tablets in U.S. courts, but a variety of verdicts have been reached in trials in other countries as well over the past two years.
Now, Apple is not making any dress claims. Instead, the five patents have to do with software features, such as slide to unlock, auto complete, background data syncing, and universal search. The company seeks $2 billion in damages, as reported by Wall Street Journal. This was $500,000 less than in the previous trial brought by the iPhone maker.
Experts say that money matters are not the primary issues here. The case could have a potential impact on products of Samsung, but some say that it could work around the supposed infringement in barely noticeable ways, as it did with the overscroll bounce issue in 2012 with different visual effect if you scroll the boundary of a web page. Whatever end comes, this battle is not likely to be resolved quickly unless Google's assistance leads to an out-of-court settlement.
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