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Samsung Lawyer Fails To Differentiate iPad and Galaxy Tab In Court

Several readers sent in a story that's sure to be embarrassing for Samsung. The company has been involved in a drawn-out patent dispute with Apple over similarities between the Galaxy Tab and the iPad. Today, during a court session, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh held up both objects and asked one of Samsung's attorneys whether she could identify which was which. The attorney replied, "Not at this distance, your honor." The distance was roughly 10 feet. The judge then quizzed the rest of Samsung's lawyers. After a brief hesitation, one of them was able to correctly identify the Galaxy Tab.

13 of 495 comments (clear)

  1. Not allowed to look closely? by bhagwad · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Two rectangular slabs are supposed to be perfectly distinguishable at 10 feet? Perhaps Apple wants Samsung to make round tablets. How bout trapezoidal? I'm sure that's not patented...

    1. Re:Not allowed to look closely? by narcc · · Score: 5, Informative

      If you took ANY pre-iPad tablet and tried to tell the difference, it would be simple.

      Any pre-iPad tablet? Nonsense!

        http://www.2imgs.com/6c941c36e5

      Take a look at these three pre-iPad tablets: JooJoo, HP Slate and CrunchPad. They look like iPad "clones" to me. It's astonishing that they were displayed before the iPad was announced. They must have a time machine that can steal Apples designs from the future!

    2. Re:Not allowed to look closely? by camperdave · · Score: 4, Funny

      Hold up a $50 and a $5 at 10 feet and I bet they have no trouble at all distinguishing the two.

      Easy. $50s are red. $5s are blue.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  2. Can't differentiate between the two? by Cryacin · · Score: 5, Funny

    How about turning them on? The one that works is a Samsung.

    --
    Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  3. IP Lawyers are fucking usless morans... by The+Grim+Reefer2 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...That's the real story here.

  4. rectangles by rish87 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This whole Apple V samsung debate really bothers me. Everyone here knows we need (proper) patent reform across the board. I hate trivial patents, patent trolling, and software patents....but there's just something about Apple being able to keep samsung from selling tablets because their tablet is, *gasp* a rectangular touch screen. Why aren't LCD monitor companies fighting each other in court? Many monitors look the same with trivial differences. All these tablets are are screens with a little computer on the back. I mean jesus christ, what a fucking waste of time and effort.

  5. Idiot judge wants to be like the ones on TV by artor3 · · Score: 4, Informative

    As others have pointed out, that's a terrible test. I can't tell apart a pair of toasters or TVs or refrigerators unless the brand logo is visible. That doesn't mean they're all infringing, it just means that form follows function. But this judge wanted a bad ass moment like what you'd see on Law and Order.

  6. Re:Good Times. by Nadaka · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It is funny that lawyers are that clueless.

    The galaxy tab has a dramatically different aspect ratio.

    Can you identify the difference between an old fashioned tv and a widescreen tv?

    I can and I don't even need to have them sitting next to each other.

  7. Re:So what? by mosb1000 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Apple has patents covering their design. This is what the judge is saying. The Galaxy clearly violates Apple's patents, but Apple still needs to prove that their patents are valid (Samsung claimed several instances of prior art, Apple has to show that those cases would not violate their patent).

  8. Re:Oh Right by blair1q · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In the case of the iPad, one of the primary uses is to impress people from across the room.

    So, yes, 10 feet is the usual using distance.

  9. Pictures by joh · · Score: 4, Informative
  10. Re:Other way? by guybrush3pwood · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For something to be funny, it has to be based in truth...

    Humor: you're doing it wrong.

    --
    Perhaps I'm trolling, perhaps I'm not.
  11. Re:Show them the WHOLE device not just the front by DeadCatX2 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The designs of most older refrigerators have a lot of similarities. The freezer was almost always on top. They almost always opened from the same side. They're typically the same size, with shelves and railings inside. Their user interface (the thermostats) were often numbered from 1-10. In fact, apart from the logo, it's usually quite difficult to tell refrigerators apart.

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    :(){ :|:& };: