A couple of weeks ago, the world watched as the Apple-Samsung battle reached its conclusion. The patent infringement case cost the latter company a staggering $1.049 billion or £665 million. All we can say is- ouch. At The Practice, we’re iPhone fans on the whole- maybe it’s our familiarity with Apple products, maybe we’re just drawn to the aesthetics, but for whatever reason, we’ve never quite jumped onto the Android bandwagon.

This epic case though, has left us very intrigued. Just what is it about Samsung’s smart phones that breaches Apple’s patent rights, and are the charges really fair or just that bit too pedantic? The jury’s verdict went on the basis that multiple Samsung devices infringed both Apple’s software and design patents. One of the claims was that iOS’s ‘bounce back’ feature was too closely copied in the design of Samsung’s Droid Charge and Galaxy Tab. The ‘bounce back’ feature for us does give Apple products their feel- if you’re familiar, it’s the little bounce you experience when you scroll down to the end of a list too closely on your iPhone.

The lesson for manufacturers? Don’t even think about creating Apple-esque products in any shape or form! Perhaps as an antidote to all this uproar, Microsoft’s Windows Phone is set to be the next big talking point. The launch of Window’s 8 means that the phone will feature desktop/tablet and phone operating systems with shared code, making it attractive to app developers working across all Windows devices.

Aside from this, there’s no denying that Apple hold the monopoly. Therefore, we feel it’s only natural for Samsung’s designers and manufacturers to create products with similar features, after no doubt conducting extensive market research; after all, Apple products are popular for a reason so it’s understandable that Samsung would want to benefit from a little imitation. After the verdict, the Korean company woefully remarked: ‘Today’s verdict should not be viewed as a win for Apple, but as a loss for the American consumer. It will lead to fewer choices, less innovation, and potentially higher prices.’

In many ways, we at The Practice can’t help feel that the charges were slightly blown out of proportion. And while we don’t condone Samsung’s copyright infringements, other mobile companies commit worse crimes on a regular basis!

Only yesterday for example, we were hit with news of Nokia’s advertising scandal; the Finnish communications company released an advert promoting the improved capability of its new Lumia 920 handset, although while the feature was claimed to have been shot with the device, it was instead filmed by a camera crew. In defense, Nokia stated that the video was purely a ‘simulation’ or representation of what the phone would be able to do, and not meant to illustrate the actual device.

And if it’s any consolation to Samsung, Apple have been guilty of a multitude of past advertising blunders, mainly consisting of wild over-exaggerations of iPhone speeds, features and capabilities. Unfortunately, it’s the Korean conglomerate that’s been in the firing line on this occasion, but if the mobile sector’s reputation is anything to go by, we’re sure it won’t be long until another dubious case hits our screens!

We want to know what your Smartphone of choice is! And do you feel bitter that Apple’s position just continues to usurp that of Android’s? Please get in touch with your thoughts and comments by tweeting to us @PracticeDigital and on Facebook.