Opening statements delivered in Apple vs. Samsung trial
Apple and Samsung hit each other hard Tuesday during the opening statements of the patent trial between the companies, the Associated Press reported. Highlights of the first day's court session:
Apple charged Samsung with choosing to copy the iPhone and iPad rather than innovate after the iPhone was announced in 2007.
To counter Apple's argument, Samsung said it pours billions into research and development, pointing out that patents have been filed for rounded rectangle designs similar to Apple's.
Apple designer Christopher Stringer testified about his role in creating the iPhone and iPad. Stringer has been with Apple for 17 years. After overcoming a number of obstacles to release both products, Stringer said he was upset to see Samsung's products on the market. "We've been ripped off. It's plain to see," he said. Stringer goes into detail with how products are developed, literally designing around a kitchen table.
As the trial opened, a juror pleaded to be released after finding out that her employer would not continue to pay her salary while she served. The request was granted.
Meanwhile, the Verge reports that Judge Lucy Koh is pretty angry with Samsung for sending the press evidence that didn't make it into the trial. Among that evidence was information showing Sony influences on iPhone prototypes.
It's interesting to note as the trial moves ahead that Apple is essentially trying to avoid what happened to the Fender Stratocaster guitar, which was so influential on guitar designs that it transformed the industry -- but Fender did not pursue the copycats promptly, and by the time it did take up the cause decades later the design had already become synonymous with a generic guitar (as pointed out by Matt Panzarino).
The trial will be on hiatus until Friday, when Apple senior vice president for marketing Phil Schiller is expected to testify.
