SAN JOSE, Aug 22: A lawyer for Apple has said that Samsung was having a “crisis of design” after the launch of the iPhone, and executives with the South Korean company were determined to illegally cash in on the success of the revolutionary device.
Samsung’s lawyer countered that the technology giant was simply and legally giving consumers what they want: Smart phones with big screens.
The competing claims came during closing arguments at the multibillion-dollar patent trial yesterday involving the world’s biggest smartphone companies, after last-minute talks between chief executives failed to resolve the dispute.
Lawyers finished closing arguments late in the day, and jury deliberations were expected to begin today.
Apple Corp argues that Samsung Electronics Co should pay the Cupertino-based company USD 2.5 billion for ripping off its iPhone and iPad technology when it marketed competing devices.
Samsung has sold 22.7 million smartphones and tablets using stolen “infringed” in legalese Apple technology since June 2010 on sales of USD 8.16 billion, Apple’s lead attorney, Harold McElhinny told jurors yesterday.
“The damages in this case should be large because the infringement has been massive,” he said.
McElhinny said Apple confronted Samsung about the alleged copying and sought a resolution before filing its lawsuit last year.
“Instead of doing the right thing, Samsung decided to gin up claims of its own,” McElhinny said of Samsung’s counter claim seeking USD 399 million from Apple for allegedly using Samsung technology in making the iconic iPhone and iPad.
Apple and Samsung combined account for more than half of global smartphone sales. Apple is also demanding that Samsung pull its most popular cellphones and computer tablets from the US market.
“Apple is asking what it is not entitled to,” Samsung’s lawyer Charles Verhoeven said during his closing arguments.
“Rather than competing in the marketplace, Apple is seeking an edge in the courtroom.”
Verhoeven argued that the state of technology has led most phone makers to design simple-to-use products with large, rounded rectangular faces. He conceded that Apple makes great products but said it doesn’t have a monopoly on the design it claims it created. (AGENCIES)
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