By: BBC News
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: Patent News
The jury has begun deliberating in the US patent trial between the two biggest smartphone-makers in the world, Samsung and Apple.
Apple lawyers accused South Korea-based Samsung of copying Apple designs after realising it could not compete.
Samsung lawyers said a win for Apple would mean less choice for consumers.
Apple is asking for more than $2.5bn (£1.6bn) in damages from Samsung for violating its patented designs and features in the iPad and iPhone.
Apple is also asking for a ban on sales of Samsung tablets and smartphones.
In return, Samsung has counter-sued, saying Apple infringed its patents for key wireless technology.
In his closing argument on Tuesday, Apple lawyer Harold McElhinny told the jury that Samsung had employed a shortcut in its product design.
"In those critical three months, Samsung was able to copy and incorporate the result of Apple's four-year investment in hard work and ingenuity- without taking any of the risks," McElhinny said referring to the time spent working on Samsung phones by a South Korean designer who testified in the trial.
For his part, Samsung's lawyer Charles Verhoeven told the jury a verdict in favour of Apple meant competition would be stifled in the industry.
"Rather than competing in the marketplace, Apple is seeking a competitive edge in the courtroom," Verhoeven said in his closing statement.
"(Apple thinks) it's entitled to having a monopoly on a rounded rectangle with a large screen. It's amazing really."
The closely watched trial has drawn worldwide attention and on Tuesday the courtroom was overflowing with observers, journalists, lawyers and analysts.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19340229
