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Samsung's 'Crisis of Design' Memo Enters Patent Trial as Early Apple Designer Testifies on Confusion
The dispute between Apple and Samsung continues to play out in U.S. court, with Apple working its way through its list of witnesses as it seeks to convince a jury that Samsung has infringed upon patents and designs related to the iPhone and iPad.
Among the interesting developments yesterday was the admission into evidence of an internal Samsung memo acknowledging that the company had suffered a "crisis of design" after the introduction of the iPhone, with Apple's lawyers arguing that the memo is evidence of Samsung's strategy to shift gears and copy the iPhone's design. AllThingsD has more on the memo:
Today has seen early Apple designer Susan Kare on the stand testifying based on her expertise in user interface and icon design. The Verge is providing live updates on Kare's testimony in which she is expressing her belief that Samsung's products and user interfaces are confusingly similar to the iPhone. In support of her testimony, Kare notes that even she was confused during a pre-trial meeting about her role as an expert witness in the case, mistakenly picking up a Samsung phone when she was attempting to reach for an iPhone.
As Apple moves through its witness list that was headlined last week by Phil Schiller and Scott Forstall, Samsung will be preparing to bring its own experts in to provide testimony arguing against Apple's claims that Samsung copied Apple's designs and intellectual property. Samsung has repeatedly tried to call into question Apple's claims that Samsung did not shift to its current design aesthetic until after the introduction of the iPhone, and will certainly seek to press that point as the case continues.
Among the interesting developments yesterday was the admission into evidence of an internal Samsung memo acknowledging that the company had suffered a "crisis of design" after the introduction of the iPhone, with Apple's lawyers arguing that the memo is evidence of Samsung's strategy to shift gears and copy the iPhone's design. AllThingsD has more on the memo:
It’s a memo that Samsung didn’t want admitted into the trial, and until now had kept it out. But this morning, when Samsung legal counsel John Quinn mentioned the “crisis of design” moment in a question to Samsung strategist Justin Denison, all bets were off, and the memo was in.
“Influential figures outside the company come across the iPhone, and they point out that ‘Samsung is dozing off.’ All this time we’ve been paying all our attention to Nokia, and concentrated our efforts on things like Folder, Bar, Slide,” Shin wrote. “Yet when our UX is compared to the unexpected competitor Apple’s iPhone, the difference is truly that of Heaven and Earth. It’s a crisis of design.”
Today has seen early Apple designer Susan Kare on the stand testifying based on her expertise in user interface and icon design. The Verge is providing live updates on Kare's testimony in which she is expressing her belief that Samsung's products and user interfaces are confusingly similar to the iPhone. In support of her testimony, Kare notes that even she was confused during a pre-trial meeting about her role as an expert witness in the case, mistakenly picking up a Samsung phone when she was attempting to reach for an iPhone.
It is my opinion that the overall collection of graphic features that makes the overall visual impression could be confusing for a consumer. Partly I base that on my visual analysis. Partly, I remember when I was at the law firm about being a expert witness in this case there was a big conference table with many phones on it... I could see the screen and went to pick up the iPhone to make a point about the UI graphics, and I was holding a Samsung phone. I usually think of myself as someone who is pretty granular about looking at graphics, and I mistook one for the other. So, I guess in addition to my formal analysis I had the experience of being confused.Cross-examination of Kare has primarily focused on walking through granular details of differences between Apple's and Samsung's icons, where Kare has admitted some differences. Samsung followed a similar tactic with Apple's previous expert witness in industrial design, Peter Bressler, with Apple's witnesses acknowledging some differences between Apple's and Samsung's products but emphasizing their belief in the overall impression being similar enough to cause consumer confusion.
As Apple moves through its witness list that was headlined last week by Phil Schiller and Scott Forstall, Samsung will be preparing to bring its own experts in to provide testimony arguing against Apple's claims that Samsung copied Apple's designs and intellectual property. Samsung has repeatedly tried to call into question Apple's claims that Samsung did not shift to its current design aesthetic until after the introduction of the iPhone, and will certainly seek to press that point as the case continues.
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92 months ago
Crisis. Ha !
So samsung decided to simply mimic the iPhone icons too.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/12/08/06/court_documents_allegedly_show_samsung_copied_iphone_icons.html
So samsung decided to simply mimic the iPhone icons too.
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/12/08/06/court_documents_allegedly_show_samsung_copied_iphone_icons.html
92 months ago
In 2004 Nokia released the 7710, have a look at these icons:
Image (http://thenokiandtech.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/nokia-7710.jpg)
Still think Apple's are original?
If you can't see the obvious difference then just wow.
92 months ago
If Samsung isn't guilty of patent infringement, they're definitely guilty of not going very far out of their way to be different. :apple:
92 months ago
My guess is the Fandroids will find a way to discount Samsung's own admissions.
Ta da! Didn't take long:
It's already gone on record that "crisis of design" is a common phrase over at Samsung. So it in itself is not damning.
Riiight.
And the icons which were posted here are a ridiculous proof point. The green phone icon has long been the icon of choice way before the iPhone. And in a very similar way.
How many ways can you show an address book? Notepad?
Yes, of course Sam, and the only way to represent music is with a pair of blue or purple eighth notes overlaid on the image of a CD. :rolleyes:
Smell the desperation.
92 months ago
My guess is the Fandroids will find a way to discount Samsung's own admissions.
92 months ago
In 2004 Nokia released the 7710, have a look at these icons:
Image (http://thenokiandtech.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/nokia-7710.jpg)
Still think Apple's are original?
Um, I think you need to turn your computer display on. You obviously can't see what you're posting.
92 months ago
How many ways can you show an address book? Notepad?
There are some "universal" ways people indicate icons that has preceded Apple's 2007's iPhone. Apple may have made it ubiquitous amongst members of this forum - but they don't own the concept.
Go to the App Store and type in "Notes" or "Contacts" and you will be hundreds of different ways. Why is it the same design and colors had to be used by Samsung?
92 months ago
If you can't see the obvious difference then just wow.
In 2004 Nokia released the 7710, have a look at these icons:
Still think Apple's are original?
Um, I think you need to turn your computer display on. You obviously can't see what you're posting.
Here.
The iPhone
the Nokia
the samsung
Now if people here cant see the obvious then they need to see an eye doctor.
92 months ago
Source: 15+ years in branding
Respectfully, you don't have any idea what you're talking about.
Here are the U.S. Government's criteria for evaluating trademark violation allegations:
1. Strength of the mark
2. Proximity of the goods
3. Similarity of the marks
4. Evidence of actual confusion
5. Marketing channels used
6. Type of goods and the degree of care likely to be exercised by the purchaser
7. Defendant's intent in selecting the mark
8. Likelihood of expansion of the product lines
By your standard, one could take the Apple logo and flip it so the "bite" is on the other side, slap it on a computer, call it "Mapple" and operate freely. I mean, it's not identical, right?
What part of Apple's registered trademark don't you understand. Their design is specific. Samsung's looks similar - yes - but it's not identical. Something which is key for a trademark violation. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it illegal or an infringement.
Respectfully, you don't have any idea what you're talking about.
Here are the U.S. Government's criteria for evaluating trademark violation allegations:
1. Strength of the mark
2. Proximity of the goods
3. Similarity of the marks
4. Evidence of actual confusion
5. Marketing channels used
6. Type of goods and the degree of care likely to be exercised by the purchaser
7. Defendant's intent in selecting the mark
8. Likelihood of expansion of the product lines
By your standard, one could take the Apple logo and flip it so the "bite" is on the other side, slap it on a computer, call it "Mapple" and operate freely. I mean, it's not identical, right?
92 months ago
Obviously I can understand fanboyism and passion for certain companies and products.
What I can't understand is how anyone of sound mind can come in here and argue that Samsung's icons as presented in this case aren't a complete and obvious ripoff of Apple's. Good grief.
That's not fanboyism. That's complete ignorance or denial.
What I can't understand is how anyone of sound mind can come in here and argue that Samsung's icons as presented in this case aren't a complete and obvious ripoff of Apple's. Good grief.
That's not fanboyism. That's complete ignorance or denial.
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