Monday marks the start of the U.S. trial between Apple and Samsung, two companies that have spent the past 17 months attempting to disembowel one another with legal filings -- all while quietly doing business together that helps keep them afloat.
The dustup between the two is of intense interest, not only in Silicon Valley, but to the electronics world at large.
At stake for Apple is a possibility to convince a jury -- and perhaps the world -- that one of its biggest rivals could only have gotten where it is by copying Apple technology. In turn, the company is vying to keep Samsung's products off shelves, with the potential threat to do the same to others if the bid is successful.
Samsung, meanwhile, will attempt to make the case that Apple's hottest gadgets -- the iPhone and iPad -- would have been impossible to make without its technology. Furthermore, the company contends that if Apple is successful against it, the outcome could "stifle legitimate competition," with a corresponding impact on consumers.
Both of these arguments were made in pretrial claims filed by the two companies last week. With either side, the case centers on the importance of intellectual property. Patents, both for the design of gadgets, as well as the inner workings of software, are being used as ammunition. The implications will be especially noteworthy if one of the companies comes out on top, making any patents involved more valuable.
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