Apple has produced a series of blueprints that it says refute Samsung’s claims that it copied Sony’s designs and now Judge Lucy Koh, who is heading up the Apple versus Samsung case, has ruled that Samsung will not be permitted to use present the evidence of the Sony-inspired designs.
Apple’s ‘Purple’ iPhone design was dated August 2005. This is prior to the mock ups designed by Shin Nishbori that were apparently based on the Sony model referenced by Samsung in court documents, writes The Verge.
Sony’s evidence dates back to 2006.
According to Samsung’s evidence, Apple looked to Sony for inspiration in designing its first iPhone, and designer Nishibori was asked to produce “Sony-like” mock-ups of mobile phones.
Nishibori, a former Apple designer and a key witness in Samsung defence against patent infringement allegations from Apple, will not appear before a California court due to health reasons.
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Author: Karen Haslam, Editor
Macworld editor since 2008, Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld almost two decades ago.
Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Her focus is Mac, but she lives and breathes Apple.