Closing arguments delayed in Apple-Samsung patent infringement trial

SAN JOSE, Calif. – A federal court on Monday delayed closing arguments by one day in the patent infringement trial involving Apple and Samsung because of an appeals court ruling in another case on a related issue.

Dueling expert witnesses were called back to the stand in a federal courtroom in San Jose to discuss whether the ruling in a legal dispute between Apple and Motorola has any effect on the Apple-Samsung trial.

The Federal U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., on Friday upheld a federal judge’s legal definition of Apple’s so-called “quick links” patent at issue in the dispute between Apple and Motorola.

READ MORE: Another Apple-Samsung patent skirmish heads to court

In Silicon Valley, Apple is accusing Samsung of infringing the patent that automatically turns phone numbers and email addresses into links, enabling users to make calls and send messages with a single click.

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh said the matter was best left for the jury to decide.

Lawyers will begin delivering closing arguments on Tuesday, with jurors to begin deliberations when the arguments conclude.

The high-stakes battle between the world’s largest smartphone makers has exposed the cutthroat competition between the two companies. Each accused the other of ripping off designs and features as they fought for supremacy of the $330 billion worldwide market.

Apple is seeking $2.2 billion, while Samsung is asking for considerably less.

The judge read jurors 53 pages of instructions on Monday explaining how to decide blame and calculate damages.

Teams of attorneys on both sides have spent the month trying to poke holes in obscure and bureaucratic patent legal claims, while keeping the eight jurors engaged.

Drawing the most attention in the courtroom and the media are insider emails and meeting presentations documenting the frustration each company faced as they competed for market share.

READ MORE: Court rules that Apple did not violate Samsung patents

Less than a year after Apple unveiled its iPhone in 2007 combining a web browser, music player and phone in one touch-screen device, Samsung officials noted they were quickly losing customers.

But Samsung fought back, using Google’s Android system, offering less expensive smartphones with larger screens.

Throughout the three years of litigation, Samsung’s market share has grown. One of every three smartphones sold last year was a Samsung, now the market leader. Apple, with a typically higher price, was second, with about 15 per cent of the global market.

Two years ago, a federal jury found Samsung was infringing on Apple patents. Samsung was ordered to pay about $900 million, but it is has appealed the judgment and has been allowed to continue selling products using the technology.