Apple vs. Samsung Lawsuit - Patent Infringement Trial Update: Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) Phil Schiller Talks Samsung Devices

By Michael Oleaga| Nov 16, 2013

The legal battles between Apple and Samsung continued this week with a major Apple executive taking the witness stand.

Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Philip Schiller answered questions by attorneys as the court determines the financial damages Samsung owes Apple.

Schiller described his reaction when he saw the Samsung Galaxy S smartphone for the first time.

"I was quite shocked," said Schiller, according to the Wall Street Journal. "They went and copied the iPhone."

Schiller added that Samsung's products have damaged the reputation of Apple's design and innovation.

"It weakens the view that the world has for Apple," said Schiller, claiming the existence of a similar-looking product by Samsung caused consumers to "question our innovation and design skills in a way that people never used to."

Samsung attorney Bill Price introduced a Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet during his question time with Schiller.

"It looks like an iPad," said Schiller.

Although Price stated that it may be common for such tech companies to copy the success of a rival's product, Schiller noted the introduction of the iPad mini was not due to the popularity of the 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Schiller stated the concept of the iPad mini "wasn't about the competition" but simply a test for Apple's engineers to fit the components of the 9.7-inch iPad into a smaller tablet.

The current trial between Apple and Samsung will determine how much money the South Korean organization has to give Apple following the $1.05 billion verdict in August 2012. U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh reduced the $1.05 billion verdict by 40 percent, or $450.5 million, stating the original jury miscalculated the cost of several Samsung products.

The retrial focuses on 13 Samsung products, which Apple claims infringed on their "bounce-back" feature when the device owner reaches at the end of a document, among other allegations.

According to Apple attorney Harold McIlhenny during opening statements of the retrial, the Cupertino-based organization lost sales due to Samsung "selling infringing products." His argument noted Samsung owes Apple royalties of up to $380 million. Samsung is willing to give money to Apple. Samsung attorney Bill Price stated the Samsung owes Apple $52 million.

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