Apple, Samsung technology face-off enters final phase

The Silicon Valley court battle between Apple and Samsung is entering its final phase. Lawyers for both companies are expected to deliver closing arguments on Tuesday before jurors are sent behind closed doors to determine a verdict in a closely watched trial over the ownership of smartphone technology. Each company accuses the other of stealing key features to develop some of the latest smartphones on the market, but Samsung’s newest device, the Galaxy S5 released earlier this month, is not at issue.

The four men and four women on the jury are to determine which company is right and how much is owed in damages. Apple Inc. is demanding $2.2 billion after arguing that nine of Samsung’s smartphones and one of its Galaxy tablets infringes five patents. Samsung Electronics Co. seeks a fraction of that figure, some $6 million, saying Apple infringed two of its patents in creating the iPhone. Samsung also argues that if it is found to have infringed Apple’s patent, it owes only $38.4 million.

Testimony wrapped up Monday with the recall of two expert witnesses to the stand to argue the effects of an appeals court ruling in an unrelated legal dispute between Apple and Motorola. The appeals court ruling upheld a trial judge’s definition of an Apple patent that automatically turns phone numbers and email addresses into links, enabling users to make calls and send messages with a single click.