Filip Novotny In the ongoing Apple vs. Samsung gave a clear estimate of the damages. The last of Apple's witnesses set the requested damages at $2,5 billion.
Terry Musika, CPA, was called as the last of a series of witnesses used by Apple in the opening part of the trial. His title Certified Public Accountant means that it is an accountant who, after graduation and some experience, has additionally passed the state exam and can work as an auditor. Apple subpoenaed him to try to quantify lost sales and profits as a result of Samsung's actions. According to Musika, Apple has lost two million iPhones and iPads due to patent infringement and product copying. The lost profits together with the license fees, which according to Apple, Samsung should pay, amount to 488,8 million dollars (roughly 10 billion CZK).
Musika went on to present the numbers of Samsung itself, specifically the turnover of 8,16 billion dollars and the profit of 2,241 billion. After taking into account the amount of profit, taxes and the state of the market at the time, the requested compensation was calculated at 2,5 billion dollars (approx. 50 billion CZK). Its amount corresponds to the numbers with which Apple was already operating during its indictment.
With the damages calculated, Apple closed the first part of the trial, during which it used 14 hours of the total 25 that Judge Koh allocated to each side. The initiative was then taken over by Samsung, which soon came up with a motion to dismiss the entire case. As a reason, the defendant's lawyers cited the assumption that Apple failed to properly build its case. Judge Koh rejected this, saying that the jury would answer the question of legitimacy with no verdict. The only one of a number of requests that was granted was the removal of several phones from the entire case. These are the international versions of the Galaxy S, S II and Ace smartphones. However, since it is an American case, the local versions of all three mentioned models remain as evidence, so in the end it is not a significant win for Samsung.
We'll see what tactics Samsung's lawyers come up with in their 25 hours. On the defensive, for the time being, they were more concerned with petty details and legalese than with real arguments. At the beginning of their part of the process, they came with by assault two important Apple patents. Where the case will go next is in the stars. But for now, we can be glad that we were able to thanks to him take a look into the design process of the iPhone that we have come to know opinions leading representatives of Apple or perhaps amount of fees, which Microsoft is paying Apple for its new Surface tablet.
What do you think about the presented numbers? Is it possible that Apple lost two million sales of its devices to Samsung, or is the number too low or too high? Given the size of the Korean corporation, will the $2,5 billion figure have a real impact, or is the whole case just hurting both companies?
I think that such lawsuits give both companies a lot of publicity. But of course - I would also defend myself if someone stole my idea. Probably neither side will be completely clean. How Jobs acted is widely known - see the biography by Isaccson.
2.5 billion dollars is quite a lot even for Samsung. It certainly won't put them down, but it will hurt. But what will be worse is that it would mean a clear signal that, at least in the US, Samsung and probably other phone manufacturers will have to pay licenses. If we are talking about amounts from 30 dollars per piece and above, then it is not so insignificant. 600 crowns (in net conversion) is quite a significant amount for a phone for 2 or 3 thousand. But there it depends on what exactly the content will be and what the court will reject. Something can be avoided, but in some cases it could be quite problematic.
do you know what you are talking about
Apple calculated Skoda at 2.5 billion
Samsung calculated Skoda at a couple of million dollars
if the court decides on the payment of damages, it will be somewhere in the range of tens, maybe a few hundred million dollars
the claims of both companies are ridiculous, and since both are abusing the patents they have, they will either come to an agreement or pay each other damages and it will be
for samsung, the dispute is a toy, as soon as you appeal, put the second batch of evidence that you are ashamed to pull out now and the dispute will be over. if samsung ever pays something, it will be a symbolic amount
it will be worse for apple... if samsung doesn't click through the fingers (and it can't because the patents and proofs won't pass), then it's a clear signal to the other phone manufacturers that apple's patents are a drink and they can 'copy' them as they like
which, by the way, is a very likely end, the only thing apple is doing now is playing for time, and at the same time it's a bit of a show for people for apple to say (as long as someone still listens) that samsung is a copy and only apple is real apple ... something like these new ads ... they don't play on the fact that Android devices are bad anymore ... they play only on the brand ... ala cocacola is better than pepsi ... because it's the original (but tastes the same)
If you don't know the difference between coca cola and pepsi, then all the taste cells in your mouth have died, because the two drinks taste completely different. I see the difference there as coffee and tea.
I enjoy it quite a bit ;)