Apple versus Samsung Opens Today

A new court battle between Apple, Inc. and Samsung Electronics, two of the largest technology companies in the world begins on Monday. The latest of many court battles between the two will be one that is closely watched, as it might have huge ramifications over what company will control the tablet and smartphone industry in the United States.

Apple sued Samsung alleging the South Korea based electronics giant infringed on Apple’s designs of its iPhones and iPads. Apple has asked the court for damages of over $2.5 billion. If Apple wins, the award would be the highest by far of any previous patent related verdict.

However, Samsung claims that Apple is the company doing the stealing and that some of its own technology, such as the rectangular designs with rounded features of both its smartphones and tablets have been one of the industry’s standards for many years.

The U.S. trial is just one of many battles the two tech giants have participated in over their different product designs. Another similar trial between the two started last week. In addition, in the United Kingdom and Germany, the two companies have been fighting for some time in courtrooms. Presently there are more than 50 lawsuits between different telecommunications corporations that are all fighting for a piece of the more than $220 billion market of smartphones and tablets.

This past June, Samsung was ordered by a California judge to take all of its Galaxy 10.1 tablets in the market off the shelves until the trial’s outcome is decided. However, attorneys for Apple cannot tell the jury of the judge’s order.