Previously unavailable documents presented to the judge in the Apple vs Samsung court case suggests that there was no solid evidence that the Samsung told its designers to copy the iPhone.
Groklaw uncovered the fuller version of Samsung's internal documents where a senior executive at the firm who presided over internal meetings apparently said, "I hear things like this: Let's make something like the iPhone."
"When everybody (both consumers and the industry) talk about UX, they weigh it against the iPhone," the exec added. "The iPhone has become the standard. That's how things are already."
While Apple stressed that Samsung told its designers to copy the iPhone, a document reveals that wasn't exactly the case: "To everyone, he said you must think at least six months ahead; be the solution to the problems that related departments come looking for. Be people with creativity."
Groklaw further showcases notes from the same meeting which states:
Designers rightly must make their own designs with conviction and confidence; do not strive to do designs to please me (the president); instead make designs with faces that are creative and diverse.
There is, however, a mention of "a crisis of design," where Samsung says, "In regards to exteriors, do your best not to create a plastic feeling and instead create a metallic feel." Sure, that does sound familiar to the iPhone, but the meeting also discusses a component that is showcased in the Galaxy S3:
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Our biggest asset is our screen. It is very important that we make screen size bigger, and in the future mobile phones will absorb even the function of e-books.
Groklaw then suggests that Apple's legal team could have been selective in regards to the presentation of some of the aforementioned evidence to the court; Apple may have chosen to focus on the segments that implied Samsung did copy the iPhone. Apple allegedly didn't, however, showcase the segment where Samsung asked its designers to be creative.
Ultimately, Samsung may not even have to pay the $1 billion in damages due to its request to get the case dismissed because of the jury foreman's history.
Zak Islam is a freelance writer focusing on security, networking, and general computing. His work also appears at Digital Trends and Tom's Guide.
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Ragnar-Kon Of course they didn't copy-pasta the iPhone. Why would they copy something that already exists?Reply
That said, they probably did take ideas from the iPhone, changed it around a little bit, and incorporated it in their own product. But every company does that. The Ford Focus and the Chevy Cruze are very similar cars, and they provide the same basic functions. The designers/engineers probably even looked at each other's product and took ideas from each other. Yet they aren't suing each other left and right.
Not that I can necessarily blame Apple or Samsung for suing each other. I'd blame the patent laws in the US (and other countries around the world) before I blame either Apple or Samsung. -
jojesa When Samsung exec said: "I hear things like this: Let's make something like the iPhone."Reply
Apple lawyers presented: "Let's make something like the iPhone."
So the judge and jury just saw phrases taken from document papers. How about reading the whole darn files. -
digiex The reason for the drop of Apple's stocks, is that investors just realized that Apple is just a patent troll.Reply -
robochump Lol. So before and after iPhone cam out pics of Samsung and most smart phones were drastically different. This is more Samsung damage control. Feel free to thumb me down but understand companies like Samsung have no problems trying to bury US companies and Samsung is far from innocent.Reply
http://itlounge.eu/pre-iphone-design-concepts-add-weight-to-samsungs-defense-in-patent-trial/ -
spentshells Honestly the Samsung Galaxy S Captivate was better than the iphone 4 it just got no love...Reply -
spentshells robochumpLol. So before and after iPhone cam out pics of Samsung and most smart phones were drastically different. This is more Samsung damage control. Feel free to thumb me down but understand companies like Samsung have no problems trying to bury US companies and Samsung is far from innocent.http://itlounge.eu/pre-iphone-desi ent-trial/Reply
I haven't seen an apple oil drilling rig yet so I'm not quite sure how to feel -
halcyon @robo. Of course Samsung is not innocent and neither is Apple. Its war, its brutal. However, since Apple is king of the mountain now they're the one that everyone is aiming at. Whether or not you support their philosophy is up to you but I've become glad to see Samsung pushing them and creating great products of its own. All premium Android phones should be as good as the SGS3.Reply -
robochump halcyon@robo. Of course Samsung is not innocent and neither is Apple. Its war, its brutal. However, since Apple is king of the mountain now they're the one that everyone is aiming at. Whether or not you support their philosophy is up to you but I've become glad to see Samsung pushing them and creating great products of its own. All premium Android phones should be as good as the SGS3.Reply
Not easy being King. But I do not dislike Samsung. I think it is a great company but its hilarious how people go on like Samsung is David and Apple is evil Goliath. The whole article is Samsung saying, "Hey we didnt copy we innovated" blah blah blah. Tho I fully expect iHaters to hate mindlessly. Before Apple got huge it too was a loved company and I love the fact that US consumer electronics has made a huge comeback with Apple at the fore front. Its almost like iHaters prefer everything to come from foreign companies....lol.