Apple and Samsung go to court today

THE HIGH-PROFILE PATENT BATTLE between Apple and Samsung heads to court in California today, where a jury will hear the firms' opening statements.

The lawsuit between the two companies has been going on for over a year now, and is one of the biggest intellectual property infringement cases of its kind.

If you've missed out on a year's worth of back-and-forth accusations, Apple is claiming that Samsung "slavishly copied" the design of its Iphone and Ipad devices, while Samsung is arguing that Apple intentionally tried to block competition to maintain "exorbitant" profit.

Samsung said in a statement earlier this month, "Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited."

Apple retaliated, saying, "It's no coincidence that Samsung's latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging."

The Korean electronics giant also claims that Apple's devices wouldn't have made it to market if it wasn't for Samsung's mobile phone technology.

There's a lot resting on the jury's decision for both companies. Samsung faces a permanent ban on sales of its Galaxy smartphone and tablet devices and £1.6bn in damages that Apple is claiming. If Samsung comes out victorious, Apple could end up handing over substantial royalties.

The trial is expected to last at least four weeks. µ