Google Comments on the $1 Billion Apple, Samsung Verdict
Google finally comments on the ruling that will see Apple awarded over a billion dollars in damages.
Apple has long been criticized for not going directly after Android maker Google as opposed to the companies manufacturing Android hardware (such as HTC and Samsung). While some of Apple's complaints relate to device design, some of its claims relate to functions enabled by the Android operating system, but taking on Google is no small feat, even if it the company is your number one competitor.
On Friday, a jury came out in favor of Apple in a parent suit against Samsung. The Cupertino-based company was awarded $1.051 billion USD in damages for its troubles. Seven Apple patents total spanning physical and software were in question, including pinch-to-zoom and 'bounce back' (the visual effect when you scroll to the bottom of a list). Today Google commented on Friday's ruling, highlighting the fact that there will be appeals and adding that the patent claims included in the suit don't relate to 'the core Android OS.' Check out the full statement from Google (via The Verge) below.
The court of appeals will review both infringement and the validity of the patent claims. Most of these don't relate to the core Android operating system, and several are being re-examined by the US Patent Office. The mobile industry is moving fast and all players — including newcomers — are building upon ideas that have been around for decades. We work with our partners to give consumers innovative and affordable products, and we don't want anything to limit that.
Meanwhile Samsung has also said that Friday's ruling won't be the last of the Apple/Samsung courtroom drama. Speaking via a recently published internal memo, the company said it trusted customers and the market would side with those who prioritize innovation over litigation. The company accused Apple of abusing the patent system and warned that such behavior would not win over the hearts of consumers.
"History has shown there has yet to be a company that has won the hearts and minds of consumers and achieved continuous growth, when its primary means to competition has been the outright abuse of patent law, not the pursuit of innovation," the memo reads.
In an official statement published on August 24, Samsung said:
"This is not the final word in this case or in battles being waged in courts and tribunals around the world, some of which have already rejected many of Apple's claims."

I know Samsung is a bit of a copycat firm but boy do they bring nice and reliable devices. For that I respect them. Long live Samsung.
I already thoroughly dislike Apple because of their dumbed-down devices and ridiculously over-priced and restrictive computers (not to mention their business model). I'll admit, I currently own an iPhone, mainly because it was free. I'm going to get a new phone soon, and the new iPhone is supposedly coming out so I was thinking about getting it, since I'd be paying about the same for anything else and the phone itself does it's job. Well now, I'm going to get an Android phone (probably Samsung, just because). This case disgusts me. This free phone that I have is the onlyApple device I've ever owned, and because of this case, I won't be actually buying an Apple device, ever.
I already hated you before Apple, now you've made me completely despise everything about you.
I know Samsung is a bit of a copycat firm but boy do they bring nice and reliable devices. For that I respect them. Long live Samsung.
I have to wonder what Samsung would have had to do to avoid Apple litigation, make a round phone with round icons maybe?
I already thoroughly dislike Apple because of their dumbed-down devices and ridiculously over-priced and restrictive computers (not to mention their business model). I'll admit, I currently own an iPhone, mainly because it was free. I'm going to get a new phone soon, and the new iPhone is supposedly coming out so I was thinking about getting it, since I'd be paying about the same for anything else and the phone itself does it's job. Well now, I'm going to get an Android phone (probably Samsung, just because). This case disgusts me. This free phone that I have is the onlyApple device I've ever owned, and because of this case, I won't be actually buying an Apple device, ever.
I already hated you before Apple, now you've made me completely despise everything about you.
Apple must die for humanity to actual progress in the tech world it seems.
The evidence included Goggle communicating with Samsung some time ago asking Samsung to stop copying Apple.
The samsung iii (or whatever) is a near exact oversized copy of the iPhone 3GS.
Dunno what you guys are defending on Samsung's side. Stop being droid heads. This was a correct rulling.
I used to prepare some patents in the 90s and the things we had to go through to prove it was innovative was rediculus. Now, you just submit it enough times and eventually it will be approved.
Since the thumbs down heads can't stand to read something other than their bigoted limited view thought I would give my addition more life.
Yes there is plenty of room. As long as phones aren't like the samsung iii (or whatever) that is an oversized clone of the iPhone 3gs. That what disgusts me. I am no apple zealot but a copy is a copy that droid heads need to see through their one sided/dimensional view.
With that said, here's the thing: Many people claim to hate Apple and all their products. They despise Apple. But then, every time Apple releases something new and successful EVERY OTHER company starts churning out that product with slight changes.
How many successful hard drive based MP3 players existed before the iPod? None. (One terrible one existed, the Archos Jukebox. The interface made it a horror to use)
How many successful multi-touch, keyless smartphones existed before the iPhone? None.
Successful tablet computers before the iPad? None (Because people kept trying to put desktop OS on them)
"App Store" type business models before the App Store? One. Steam. But Steam functions somewhat differently in that it is mostly operating system independent. The new "App Stores" are all for their specific operating system.
Now, of course, Apple didn't straight out invent these things. They saw things that had potential and added the software and some hardware engineering to get rid of the problems that were keeping them from being successful.
But, everyone wants to hate Apple. You 'hate' them, and then you buy hardware that heavily borrowed from their innovations. I have no problems with competition borrowing, but it's this ridiculous mindset of badmouthing Apple product and design and then lusting after something that is almost exactly the same "But it's not Apple!"
What kind of complex do you think you'd have if everyone always shat all over you, despite your innovations, then bought up the next generation of products that were heavily based on those innovations? I'm sure you'd be pissed and you'd go after those companies with a vengeance, public appearance be damned.
Well, a lot of cars look and function alike too...should all the car manufacturers start patenting a steering wheel with a flattened bottom or active Xenon HID headlights?
It just seems lame to me...but in my old age I've lost my sense of humor and patience it seems.
This isn't about Android based phones. It's about a company making as close as possible to a copy of a Apple's phone, because it was successful, in order to make their own phone successful.
While some of the tactics were silly, like referencing small software features like "Bounce Back," that's how you win in court. You grasp at any foothold you can and make mountains out of molehills to convince the court.
Is Apple going to go chase after everyone that uses "Bounce Back?" Probably not. But they uses tactics like that here because they were definitely going after a company that was making hardware EXTREMELY similar to theirs.
With that said, here's the thing: Many people claim to hate Apple and all their products. They despise Apple. But then, every time Apple releases something new and successful EVERY OTHER company starts churning out that product with slight changes.
How many successful hard drive based MP3 players existed before the iPod? None. (One terrible one existed, the Archos Jukebox. The interface made it a horror to use)
How many successful multi-touch, keyless smartphones existed before the iPhone? None.
Successful tablet computers before the iPad? None (Because people kept trying to put desktop OS on them)
"App Store" type business models before the App Store? One. Steam. But Steam functions somewhat differently in that it is mostly operating system independent. The new "App Stores" are all for their specific operating system.
Now, of course, Apple didn't straight out invent these things. They saw things that had potential and added the software and some hardware engineering to get rid of the problems that were keeping them from being successful.
But, everyone wants to hate Apple. You 'hate' them, and then you buy hardware that heavily borrowed from their innovations. I have no problems with competition borrowing, but it's this ridiculous mindset of badmouthing Apple product and design and then lusting after something that is almost exactly the same "But it's not Apple!"
What kind of complex do you think you'd have if everyone always shat all over you, despite your innovations, then bought up the next generation of products that were heavily based on those innovations? I'm sure you'd be pissed and you'd go after those companies with a vengeance, public appearance be damned.
Everyone doesn't want to hate or outright hate Apple. ...just a lot of the opinionated teens that follow this site. Most adults don't have time for such nonsense.
Just putting aside the fact for a minute that Apple has become dominant through copying other designs AND that patent law is pointless in an industry where devices become outdated after 18 months (
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Just putting aside the fact for a minute that Apple has become dominant through copying other designs AND that patent law is pointless in an industry where devices become outdated after 18 months ( less than or equal to a design cycle for a smartphone type product), you really should be hoping apple doesn't win in appeals. The more Apple can sue competitors out of the market:
The more they can charge,
the less they need to innovate (We are already starting to see this with the iPhone 4S. Software "features")
The less options you will innevitebly have.
The galaxy iii looks like an iPhone because there really aren't alot of variations for a device that is 95% LCD/touchscreen. You can change up the bezel, the width of the phone (thinner is better obviously), the number of buttons, and the placement of buttons. None of which really determine the functionality of the phone. If you are trying to tell me that android is like iOSX, I'd be happy to have a discussion with you as to why software patents are detrimental to EVERYONE except for lawyers.
How, how in the hell is this anything at all like the Iphone do you say this because of the touch screen? Not to mention the Iphone 3GS is like 1/5 as powerful as the Samsung III.
Since the creation of Apple all they tried to do is patent and bring company's to court. Now their just to big and their trying to get Samsung knock down on the smart phone/tablet market so they can get bigger since Samsung is Google's big partner. Like someone else said all patents are doing is delaying future technology or limiting competition and its sad to see that in the united states but its even more sad to see some people agree with it out of court hell i wonder if any of these lawyers can sleep at night now a days.