Samsung vs. Apple Trial: Jury foreman suggests Apple should sue Google directly

The jury foreman in the recently concluded Apple vs Samsung patent trial in the U.S. has suggested that Apple could perhaps sue Google directly rather than going through Samsung or any other Android OEM.

This is a point which Samsung has made to the jury previously, claiming that it’s merely a proxy for most of the allegations which were actually Google based. In defense of what Samsung said, Google promised to pay part of the royalties and fines in case the ruling went against them.
The jury awarded 119.6 million or 5% of the $2.2 billion that was originally demanded by Apple. Samsung received $158,000 from Apple for having infringed on one of its parents.
The Korean manufacturer was found to be infringing on the slide to unlock patent which Google wasn’t responsible for, while the remaining two were Android related infringements.
The jury foreman Tom Dunham said – “If you really feel that Google is the cause behind this, as I think everybody has observed, then don’t beat around the bush. Let the courts decide. But a more direct approach may be something to think about.”
Apple is going after Android based smartphone makers, especially Samsung for strategic reasons, as they’re directly making money selling Android phones. Google meanwhile doesn’t charge hardware companies for using Android, relying instead on ad revenues by bundling their services like Search etc., so there may not be much for Apple to sue about.
What do you think? Should Apple still go after Google?
[Via WSJ]

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