Apple is suing Samsung for another $2 billion, and Google’s been asked to help with this one

• Quentyn Kennemer
• 10 years ago

It’s 2014, and times haven’t changed much at all. Bacon is still delicious, I’m still a few pounds too heavy, and Apple still hates Samsung. That last one is ringing true more than ever, as the Cupertino company has pulled Samsung into another high-profile patent dispute lawsuit seeking damages in the “billions” range.

Apple is claiming that Samsung has infringed on five different patents as it relates to software, and are looking to get awarded $2 billion for the supposed infringement. Additionally Apple is seeking about $40 per Samsung device sold in royalties. Apple claims Samsung infringed on slide to unlock, as well as the “tap from search” feature that allows users to, say, initiate a call by tapping on a result after typing in a partial phone number or contact name in the search box.

The numbers are downright outrageous, and history tells us the chances of Apple actually seeing that much in the event of a win are slim to none. But Samsung won’t be taking it lying down no matter what amount, as the company has already fired back with a countersuit of their own, claiming Apple infringes on patents relating to the way media is stored on a device, as well as the way data is sent and received over low-bandwidth networks.

“Apple revolutionized the market in personal computing devices,” said Apple. “Samsung, in contrast, has systematically copied Apple’s innovative technology and products, features and designs, and has deluged markets with infringing devices.”

On the contrary, Samsung fired back by saying they’ve “been a pioneer in the mobile device business sector since the inception of the mobile device industry,” and went on to suggest Apple has copied many of their innovations in the iPhone, iPad and iPod family.

That Apple is focusing on software in this barrage of attacks is key, as it has reportedly prompted Samsung to seek the help of Google. Such a strong lawsuit could be seen as a means of indirectly attacking Android, with Apple using Samsung as the catalyst for their assault. Samsung is by far the biggest company there is in the Android smartphone race, after all, and this could have implications for all Android OEMs in the long run.

BBC claims Samsung will call on the likes of Andy Rubin — the man responsible for Android’s existence — to testify as a witness in court, with many believing Rubin will suggest many of these patented features were in the works before Apple secured them.

This isn’t the only thing going on in Samsung’s legal world as it pertains to Apple, either. If you don’t remember, Judge Lucy Koh awarded Apple a $900 million claim in the original hardware-focused patent spat that went underway two years ago. Samsung is currently appealing that ruling, and it will take quite a bit of time for the case to produce a solid end result.

You know we’ll be keeping tabs on this case as the months (and possibly years) move on, so count on us to bring you everything you need to know about what’s sure to become one of the most important trials in the history of mobile.