Samsung wanted to present concrete proof via prototypes it developed before Apple’s release that Samsung independently developed the device before Apple. The judge found the evidence was brought up too late and refused to admit it. Nevertheless I can state with some confidence that Apple’s whole suit is baseless. Apple seems to have found a very friendly judge. I doubt a finding for Apple will survive appeal. Finding evidence late in the process is not a basis to exclude the evidence if it is pivotal. That is a basis to extend the pre-trial period. Both Apple and Samsung presented this evidence publicly but now Apple is asking punishment for Samsung over it. Where is the justice when Apple can lie in public but Samsung is not allowed a defence?

Irrelevant. Google the creator of the OS that Samsung relied on to make their product demanded that they avoid a design that too closely copied a major competitor. Samsung was obviously not bound to take googles demand into consideration (stupid contract writing on googles part IMHO). If Samsung is not lucky, this fact will server as evidence of willful infringement on apples patent.

Google told Samsung that its “P1” and “P3” Android tablets — the devices that would become the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab 10.1 — looked “too similar” to Apple’s iPad. Google demanded “distinguishable design vis-à-vis the iPad for the P3.” This information was included in an unredacted trial brief.

Then again if you want to support cheap knockoffs…