Apple and Samsung take 90 minutes to tell each other off in opening statements

Apple and Samsung’s highly publicized trial began today, with opening statements from either company that lasted 90 minutes each.

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“Samsung had two choices: Accept the challenge of the iPhone, come up with its own designs, and beat Apple fairly in the market, or it could copycat it,” said Apple attorney Harold McElhinny, according to Wired.

Apple’s comments also included mentions of Steve Jobs, which Samsung allegedly asked the judge to ban. The late Steve Jobs who helped create the iPhone, was known to be an inspirational figure. Samsung feared that if his picture and name were mentioned too much in the trial, it may cause the jury to be biased against the Korean mobile manufacturer.

Apple’s council further explained that Samsung should pay Apple for a number of patents and that, in turn, Apple has not infringed on any of Samsung’s IP.

Apple and Samsung have been at each other’s throats for the last few months about Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet and the Galaxy Nexus smartphone. Apple said that Samsung has been blatantly copying its corresponding products, the iPad and the iPhone, in form factor and packaging. As a result, a California court approved an injunction against both Samsung products for the remainder of the trial. In order to protect Samsung from any damages should the Korean company win, Apple put up a $2.6 million bond for the Galaxy Tab and $95.6 million bond for the Galaxy Nexus.

via Wired; Apple headquarter image via micurs/Flickr