Samsung designed its Nexus handset with Apple lawyers in mind

KOREAN HARDWARE VENDOR Samsung has revealed that the design of its Galaxy Nexus smartphone was influenced by Apple and its lawyers' dogged pursuit of its other Galaxy devices.

Samsung announced the handset yesterday, and it looks neat and runs the Google Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. What it should not do, however, is remind you of an Iphone.

In a report from the Yonhap news agency the firm revealed that the Galaxy Nexus was designed to avoid any legal assaults from Apple, something that we will file under good common sense.

Apple has doggedly pursued Samsung around the world accusing it of slavishly copying its designs. Although Samsung has fought back with tit for tat lawsuits, its likely that it would prefer not to drag its latest creation through a world tour of the courts.

"Now we will avoid everything we can and take patents very seriously," said Shin Jong-kyun, Samsung's mobile president. "We will see if (the Galaxy Nexus) will be 100 percent free [from lawsuits]."

The world has watched as the two firms have wrestled in the courts and according to Shin we had better get some popcorn in as they are not going anywhere soon.

"I think it is just a start and (the lawsuits) will last for a considerable time," he added. "I don't think there is much gain (from lawsuits against Apple). What we are losing is the pride in our brand." µ