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Side-by-side iPhone, Galaxy S comparison revealed in internal Samsung 'evaluation report'

In an effort to prove a willful infringement on its design patents, Apple on Friday presented internal Samsung documents in court containing side-by-side comparisons of the iPhone and what would eventually become the Galaxy S smartphone.

A number of documents came out in the Apple v. Samsung trial during the questioning of Samsung chief strategy officer Justin Denison, who was called upon by Apple to testify on behalf of the Samsung Electronics Corp., Samsung Electronics America, and Samsung Telecommunications America. According to CNet, Apple attorney William Lee presented Denison as someone with comprehensive knowledge of Samsung's product development strategies.

During Denison's initial testimony, Lee got straight to the point and asked if Samsung had ever tried to copy Apple's designs. Denison unsurprisingly claimed the company did not. Lee then presented to the Court internal Samsung documents, some of which were titled "Beat Apple response," "Recent Apple analysis project" and "iPhone 5 counter strategy."

Perhaps the most significant exhibit was a document dated March 2, 2010 titled "Relative evaluation report on S1, iPhone" which contained side-by-side pictures of the iPhone's interface and that of the Galaxy S. Samsung reportedly called for suggestions or "improvements" in highlighted areas where specific software assets differed between the two devices. An example suggestion was to change the appearance of Galaxy S UI iconography.


Samsung Chief Strategy Officer Justin Denison. | Source: Samsung

In Samsung's cross-examination, Denison argued Apple's designs were borne out of necessity rather than being innovative, reiterating the company's stance that the iPhone and iPad patents are not unique because they describe "rectangles." Kevin Packingham, Samsung's chief product officer, said much the same recently, stating that he finds it "unreasonable that we’re fighting over rectangles, that that’s being considered as an infringement."

Denison points out that a device with rounded-corners is simply logical, noting that "if you drop it, it's much more likely not to crack if it's rounded."

The Denison testimony, which followed those of Apple marketing executive Phil Schiller and iOS chief Scott Forstall, wrapped up Friday's court proceedings. Apple v. Samsung is scheduled to reconvene on Monday with Apple witness Wookyun Kho, a Samsung engineer who will likely answer questions pertaining to certain proprietary UI elements like the company's "blue glow" overscroll feature.