Apple Claims Google Warned Samsung About Copying iPad

Apple and Samsung's courtroom ping pong continues today with claims from Apple that even Google warned Samsung about the Galaxy Tab being too similar to the iPad.

All Things Digital today cites an unredacted version of Apple's trial brief that claims Samsung knew its own line of Galaxy smartphones and tablets were quite similar, aesthetically, to Apple's iPhone and iPad. In fact, the brief claims that not only did Samsung deliberately copy Apple's designs but it was actually warned about its products being too similar to Apple's on multiple occasions. One of these warnings apparently came from Android creator Google.

The briefing says Samsung was warned by Google, product designers at its own company, and famous designers, about copying Apple's designs. These people are all said to have raised concerns about the Galaxy S or Galaxy Tab looking too similar to Apple's iPhone and iPad. Google's remarks came in early 2010. The search giant is quoted as saying the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab 10.1 were "too similar" to the iPad and demanded "distinguishable design vis-à-vis the iPad for the [Galaxy Tab 10.1]."

Samsung and Apple are currently duking it out in courthouses around the world. Apple believes Samsung copied the iPad in its design for the Galaxy Tab line, as well as taking some elements from the iPhone for the design of the Galaxy smartphones, while Samsung is counter-suing for patent infringement relating to wireless technologies. The lawsuits have resulted in temporary import bans on certain Galaxy products in some countries but Samsung hasn't lost every time. The company's most recent win came at the hands of a UK judge that ruled in Samsung's favor earlier this month. The judge even ordered Apple to publish a public apology on its website to clear Samsung's name and counter any damage the lawsuit may have done to South Korean's company's reputation.

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