The patent infringement lawsuit between Samsung and Apple, two of the largest manufacturers of smartphones in the world, will start today in the United States, and the stakes are huge. The most important lawsuit in the IT world, which is centered around Apple and Samsung, started in the U.S. today with the selection of the ten jurors. They will decide if and which company has violated intellectual property rights.
Apple was first to sue Samsung in a court in San Jose, California, a year ago. Apple says that Samsung had violated no less than seven patents and copied its iPhone and iPad products. Samsung responded the same way, accusing Apple of violating five patents. Two of them are related to 3G technology. Although Apple buy most components from Samsung, the two companies failed to reach an agreement, so it is a jury trial.
If they win, the American technology group would ban the sale of Samsung ‘s mobile phones and Galaxy tablets in the U.S. and will ask $2.5 billion in damages. Samsung and Apple have together more than half of total sales of smartphones worldwide, and this process could change the world leader.
According to IDC, the top seller of smartphones in the second quarter of 2012 is Samsung, with a market share of 32.6% (with sales of 50.2 million units from 18.4 million units during the similar period in 2011), followed by Apple, with a market share of 16.9% (sales of 26 million units from 20.4 million units in the same period in 2011), Nokia, with a market share of 6,6% (with sales of 10.2 million units from 16.7 million units in the same period in 2011), HTC, with a market share of 5.7% (with sales of 8.8 million units, from 11.6 million units in the same period in 2011) and ZTE with a market share of 5.2% (with sales of 8 million units, from 2 million units in the same period in 2011).
The lawsuit will take at least four weeks, and Silicon Valley jury decision must be unanimous.
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