An expert witness testified last Friday that consumers are willing to purchase three patented smartphone features for $100. The issue has come up in a trial that pits Apple Inc. against Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. The expert witness, John Hauser, from MIT, said that he surveyed consumers using the Internet. He asked them how much they would be willing to pay for the technology mentioned in the lawsuit. The technology includes multitouch and scrolling. In the lawsuit, Apple claims that Samsung stole the technology from it.
Boris Teksler, the patent portfolio director for Apple, said that he is able to count on one hand how many times the company allowed other companies to use its design patents. Teksler declined to name the companies. Samsung has been accused of copying the Apple design and features for the iPad and iPhone. Apple has requested monetary damages and a ban on sales. Samsung claims that Apple infringed on some of its wireless technology patents.
Hauser also said that consumers claim they are willing to pay $90 for patented features used on tablets as they are willing to pay $100 for features on smartphones. Apple has asked for $2.5 billion from Samsung in the lawsuit. The data provided by Hauser could come into play when the court determines who much money Apple could get from Samsung.
Teksler said that when Samsung released its Galaxy S phone during the summer of 2010, former Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs and current CEO Tim Cook reached out to Samsung to offer them a complaint. Apple uses Samsung for parts for tablets and smartphones.
“We were quite shocked,” Teksler said. “They were a trusted partner.”