Apple Refutes Allegations That it Copied Sony, Shows 'Purple' iPhone Prototype

Apple is refuting allegations that it copied the iPhone design from Sony and has presented a 'purple' iPhone prototype as proof, reports The Verge.

"Purple" dates back to August 2005 - months before the Jony prototype was originally designed. According to the documents, Shin Nishibori's Sony-style touches were simply "an 'enjoyable' side project," embellishments on a concept Apple had already designed. The documents contend that Purple remained free of the alleged Sony inspirations, ultimately giving birth to the iPhone in 2006 (and looking decidedly like the iPhone 4).

Apple has requested that the Court enforce an order from Judge Grewal excluding evidence that Apple's designs were derived from Sony's design language, from Mr. Nishibori's exercise in applying Sony-style design details to the iPhone, or from Sony handsets of the time. Because this evidence is not admissible to prove the invalidity of Apple's patents, they argue it should not come in for any purpose.


"Judge Grewal's Order prevents Samsung from relying on Sony handset designs, Apple's "Sony-style" CAD drawings, or Sony "design language" to argue the invalidity of Apple's designs. All such evidence was stricken from Mr. Sherman's expert report. Samsung's attempt to prove otherwise fails, as does its effort to devise other theories to support the admissibility of this evidence."

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