One year ago this month the two companies locked horns and their legal fight has since extended around the globe. With patent litigation fast turning into the tech industry’s favorite past time, the year-long legal battle between Apple and Samsung that began last April now extends to more than 10 countries around the world and at least 50 initial filings.
After an initial filing, lawsuits can be consolidated which happened far more frequently, split up into multiple lawsuits by the courts also, these parties tend to appeal each and every decision, and the list below doesn’t contain cases before appeals courts.
There’s always the possibility that these two might be able to work out a deal. During a conference call last week to discuss the company’s quarterly earnings, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook offered a general statement of his desire to end the litigation that has engulfed much of the wireless industry without mentioning Samsung specifically.
This long running legal confrontation began in April 2011 when Apple filed a lawsuit in California accusing Samsung of copying “the look and feel” of its iPad tablet and iPhone smartphone.