Last week, we noted that as part of its case seeking to have sales of the iPhone 4S banned in Australia, Samsung had requested access to both the iPhone 4S source code and Apple's agreements with the country's wireless carriers. Samsung's interest in the carrier contracts related to device subsidies, with the company curious about whether the amount of subsidies paid to Apple by the carriers might be resulting in anti-competitive behavior.

apple samsung logos
Bloomberg now reports that the judge in the case has sided with Samsung on the carrier contract issue, ordering Apple to turn over copies of its agreements to Samsung. Apple had objected to Samsung's request, calling it a "fishing expedition" by Samsung without a specific target relevant to the case.

[Australia Federal Court Justice Annabelle] Bennett ruled the contracts with the phone operators are relevant to Samsung’s case. Apple said it would oppose the disclosure and suggested it was a speculative effort to find damaging information.

“We will resist any attempts by our friends to push us into a corner” on the subsidies, Apple’s lawyer Andrew Fox told the judge. “This is quite clearly a fishing expedition.”

Bennett declined to rule on Samsung's source code request at this time, noting that she will address the issue on November 11th unless Apple and Samsung reach an agreement on their own before then.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

ComputersaysNo Avatar
178 months ago
Crikey!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleFan1984 Avatar
178 months ago
If Apple thought that suing a giant like Samsung would not cause any kind of repercussions, they were highly mistaken.
Maybe they thought it would be a slam dunk if they could get the case in a court run by a judge who's married to a partner of the firm they hired to represent them:
https://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=13827537&postcount=151
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KnightWRX Avatar
178 months ago
Samsung just got totally insane... This makes no sense. Maybe they want to copy the whole UI...

Uh ? What are you smoking ? The source code they asked for is for the radio driver to access the Broadcom/Qualcomm communication chip Apple is using for cellular voice/data/wifi. Samsung holds patents on some methods of accessing these chips and needs to ascertain if Apple is infringing on those patents or not.

Where did you get "copying the UI" out of that ? :rolleyes:
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
erzhik Avatar
178 months ago


Hand over source code. To me that sounds like anti-competitive behavior.

Every day I dislike Samsung more and more.
Did you not read the news 3 months ago when Apple forced the court to ban sales of Galaxy Tabs in Australia?

If Apple thought that suing a giant like Samsung would not cause any kind of repercussions, they were highly mistaken. Samsung is not a small company. If you are going to sue them, you better make sure you are ready to defend, because they will attack you with all guns.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BC2009 Avatar
178 months ago
This SUCKS!! Today news is horrendous:

1. Apple Required to Reveal Australian Carrier Cintracts to Samsung
2. iPhone 4S orders cut in Q4
3. Kindle Fire Seen Slowing Some Previously Planned iPad Purchases

1. But not having to reveal source code

2. iPhone 4S orders not really cut (see update -- all sell-through tracking is showing this is not the case and Apple may be trying to manipulate the price of components)

3. Kindle Fire killing "planned purchases" of iPad (i.e.: folks who were planning to buy an iPad, but had not because it was too expensive, opted for a $200 Kindle Fire -- imagine that)

4. Did you notice that Adobe stopped making Mobile Flash?
Score: 0 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tray3 Avatar
178 months ago
This SUCKS!! Today news is horrendous:

1. Apple Required to Reveal Australian Carrier Cintracts to Samsung
2. iPhone 4S orders cut in Q4
3. Kindle Fire Seen Slowing Some Previously Planned iPad Purchases

Not quite....

1. Adobe Discontinues Development of Flash Player on Mobile Devices (vindication for Jobs)
2. Apple Jumps to Fourth in Greenpeace's Environmental Rankings of Electronics Companies
:) :D
Score: 0 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 17 Models Rumored to Feature Redesigned Dynamic Island

Monday July 7, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
iPhone 17 models will feature a redesigned Dynamic Island user interface, according to a post today from Digital Chat Station, an account with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has accurately leaked some information regarding future Apple products in the past. The account did not share any specific details about the alleged changes that are ...
Prime Day 25 Feature Warm Triad

The Best Prime Day Deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and More

Monday July 7, 2025 10:55 am PDT by
Amazon is back with its annual summertime Prime Day event, lasting for four days from July 8-11, the longest Prime Day yet. As it does every year, Prime Day offers shoppers a huge selection of deals across Amazon's storefront. With the event now underway, we're tracking numerous all-time low prices on Apple gear right now. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a...