Apple to Get Peek at Samsung Prototypes, Court Orders

In mid-April, Apple sued Samsung over the design of several of its devices, alleging that the Korean electronics firm copied its designs from the iPhone and iPad. Now, a federal court is forcing Samsung to hand over samples of new phones for Apple to pore over.

While naturally some of these phones have been released (the list of devices Apple will have access to includes the Samsung Galaxy S II, the Galaxy Tab 8.9, the Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Infuse 4G and the Droid Charge), some have not. No one from Apple or even Apple's in-house lawyers will see the unreleased devices.

San Jose federal judge Lucy Koh has given Samsung only a month to deliver the devices to Apple. Once it takes a look, Apple may request an injunction.

It was quite clear when the Samsung Galaxy S was released that it was very similar to the iPhone, right down similarities in the placement of icons. Samsung also has its own versions of the iPod touch, Apple's wi-fi only MP3 player: the Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 and Galaxy S WiFi 4.0.
Tags:  Samsung, Apple, Lawsuit