Earlier today, we reported that Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) had given a job to a Judge who had ruled against the company in a patent case. The South Korean electronics giant has denied the allegations according to a report from SlashGear.
The Judge in question, Sir Robin Jacob, ordered Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to apologize to Samsung for claiming that the company had copied its design. The alleged hire of the Judge cast dispersion on that case in retrospect, though Samsung’s denial means that any faults that may have been speculated with the case are no longer valid.
In a statement, Samsung said “Sir Robin Jacobs is not a legal representative of Samsung Electronics.” The firm did, however, admit that Jacobs was a contractor for a legal firm that was representing the company in a case it has brought against Eriksson.
The case on which Sir Robin Jacobs made the judgement related to patent infringement by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) on the iPad tablet computer from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). Jacobs is now listed as one of nine experts on Samsung’s side in the case against the Swedish company Eriksson.
Jacobs has retired form his position as Judge, though his expertise in intellectual property law is still a valued commodity. It is no wonder he has been picked up by a firm that’s involved in the biggest disputes in that arena. Samsung is one of the companies most often involved in those cases, it’s really not that unlikely that he’s ended up representing the firm.
Whether or not Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) takes issue with the news will remain to be seen. The company is still involved in patent disputes with Samsung, and that case represented one of the most egregious losses for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) so far in the patent wars.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) legal representation might take note of the development, but it seems difficult to make a case on such an indirect quid pro quo. Sir Robin Jacobs is an accomplished professional. He could surely have gotten a consulting job with any firm in his field. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) appears to have a pretty tight defense of this move.
There is no telling what kind of petty and illogical moves might be utilized in patent wars, however. Some bright lawyer may see this as a way for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to get some kind of advantage.
