Apple-Samsung Lawsuit Update: Lawyers Make Closing Arguments In Trial Over Tech-Design Patents

Yesterday evening Apple and Samsung's lawyers made their closing arguments in what may prove to be a landmark judicial case for the world of tech design. While Apple used the opportunity to highlight internal documents which suggest that Samsung purposefully copied its patented designs, Samsung attempted to make the broader argument that a victory for Apple would be a blow against future innovation in the world of consumer electronics.

In his closing argument, Apple's attorney Harold McElhinny revisited some of the most damning evidence against Samsung that had been submitted during the trial, focusing on physical documents over expert witness testimony.

McElhinny highlighted a number of internal Samsung documents, which demonstrate that the South Korea company looked to Apple for design inspiration at the very least. One document in particular, shows the iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy smartphone side-by-side with accompanying ideas for how to make the company's smartphone more like Apple's, and also referenced both sides' testimony, arguing that Samsung's choice of witnesses showed a lack of respect for the judicial process. 

Samsung took a drastically different tactic in their closing argument, making the case that a victory for Apple will mean a loss for gadget consumers. Samsung attorney Charles Verhoeven's statement, while relevant and powerful, suggests that he may believe that Apple's evidence against his client overwhelming.

Verhoven argued that Apple is trying to use this lawsuit to take out its biggest competitor in the smartphone market.

The statement captures the basic dispute between Apple and Samsung. While Apple claims that its design have been cloned and copied, Samsung argues that they are simply trying to keep up with the competition.

Verhoven also took aim at some of Apple's expert witnesses, specifically those that claimed that the two companies' smartphones have become difficult to tell apart. It's a shell game. Apple counsel is trying to mislead Samsung. There's no malintent, there's no copying. If you put it in context instead of matching from different divisions, or using documents that aren't even accused...the copying claims fail.

In Apple's rebuttal, attorney Bill Lee refuted Verhoven's argument, claiming that he was misrepresenting Apple's intentions, also said, Nobody has told Samsung to get out of the marketplace. Nobody is trying to get them to stop selling smartphones, All we're saying is make your own designs. Make your own phones. Compete on your own innovations.

With the closing arguments finished the outcome of this trial now lies in the jury's hands. Before the arguments were made yesterday, each juror received a 109-page instruction manual outlining the legal grounds and relevant laws pertaining to this case. Judge Lucy Koh then read the document allowed to the jury, which took over two hours.

The jury's deliberations will begin tomorrow as they work their way through over 20 pages of questions from Samsung and Apple that entail the verdict document.