Apple, Samsung Patent Trial: What Did We Learn?

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March 25, 2023

Apple, Samsung Patent Trial: What Did We Learn?

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If it’s not already feverishly preparing its appeal, Samsung is likely drowning its sorrows with a Bloody Mary or five this morning. A California jury on Friday found that Samsung had infringed on various Apple design and utility patents with its tablets and smartphones and awarded Cupertino approximately $1.05 billion in damages.

Apple will likely have to wait a bit to get its hands on that billion-dollar check; the appeals process will probably drag on for some time. But before the jury returned its sweeping decision after just three days of deliberation, Apple and Samsung provided weeks of testimony about their business operations, internal discussions, and more. Much of it was mind-numbing legalese, but there were a few tidbits that piqued the interest of tech watchers and journalists alike.

We got the inside scoop, for example, on how much Apple and Samsung made from their device sales here in the U.S.; previously, we’d only heard global numbers. We found out just how much Apple wanted Samsung to fork over in order to settle this case (hint: it’s a lot). We learned that Apple and Samsung were likely never going to just kiss and make up. We saw an amusing side of Judge Lucy Koh, and learned that maybe Steve Jobs didn’t think those 7-inch tablets were “dead on arrival” after all.

Hit the slideshow for more details. Also check out Apple’s Huge Win Over Samsung: What They’re Saying as well as Apple Patent Breakdown: Which Samsung Tech, Gadgets Infringe and How Will Samsung, Apple Patent Verdict Affect Android?

1. Steve Jobs ‘Receptive’ to 7-inch Tablets

Steve Jobs 'Receptive' to 7-inch Tablets

In public, Steve Jobs had nothing but contempt for tablets smaller than the 9.7-inch iPad, but an email revealed in Apple’s patent trial with Samsung told a very different story. In the message from Apple executive Eddy Cue to iOS chief Scott Forstall and other top Apple execs, Cue wrote: “I believe there will be a 7-inch market and we should do one. I expressed this to Steve several times since Thanksgiving and he seemed very receptive the last time.” Oh really? Back in 2010, Jobs said during an earnings call that 7-inch tablets were “dead on arrival.” Apple, however, is now rumored to be prepping its own 7-inch version of the iPad.

2. Apple, Samsung Sales Numbers

sales

Documents filed in the case revealed just how many smartphones and tablets Samsung and Apple sold in the U.S. over the past few years. On the smartphone front, Apple sold almost 86 million iPhones in the U.S. since 2007, which generated revenue of just over $50 billion. Sales have increased steadily over the years – from 3.2 million in 2007 to 32.3 million last year. Samsung, meanwhile, sold 21.2 million units of the two dozen smartphones involved in this case in the U.S. since 2010, generating about $7.5 billion in revenue.

3. Apple Wants How Much?!

Apple Wants How Much?!

In addition to learning how much Apple and Samsung made from their respective smartphone and tablet lineups, we also found out how much Apple wanted Samsung to fork over for infringing on its gadgets. Cupertino submitted a multi-page document that laid out several different payment scenarios – depending on the patents included – and demands ranged from $2.4 billion to almost $2.9 billion. So, is $1.05 billion a steal?

4. Exec Negotiations Fail

Exec Negotiations Fail

Can’t we all just get along? To answer that question, I’ll need to consult with my lawyer. The trial revealed that Samsung and Apple execs tried several times to negotiate a settlement. Even as the case went to the jury, Tim Cook and Samsung’s Kwon Oh Hyun had one last phone meeting in an effort to reach a deal, but to no avail. Oh, to be a fly on the wall during that conversation.

5. Galaxy Nexus a Failure?

Galaxy Nexus a Failure?

A Samsung lawyer said sales of its latest Galaxy Nexus phone were “so miniscule” that the device wasn’t a threat to anyone. Samsung’s lawyers said the company took in about $250 million from the Galaxy Nexus during the first two quarters it was on sale. That isn’t nothing, but it’s far short of a hit. For more, see Did Samsung Just Admit the Galaxy Nexus Failed?

6. Judge Lucy Koh: Not Smoking Crack

Judge Lucy Koh: Not Smoking Crack

In a case that sometimes included hours of mundane testimony, Judge Lucy Koh often kept things interesting. One of her more entertaining outbursts, however, was when she asked an Apple lawyer if he was “smoking crack” after he tried to submit a 75-page witness list as the case was wrapping up. For the record, the lawyer responded that he was not smoking crack.

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Source link : https://www.pcmag.com/news/apple-samsung-patent-trial-what-did-we-learn