evidence

Crowdsourced videos, photos could aid Boston blast investigations

Law enforcement officials could have something very different on their hands as they investigate the dual bomb blasts that struck the Boston Marathon finish line today: a potential abundance of photo and video evidence from the public.

Government surveillance, while growing, still misses more than it catches. But events with thousands of spectators offer the potential for a detailed crowdsourced record of what happened.

This public panopticon is changing how we see the world. February's Russian meteor was captured by many dash-cams mounted in Russian cars, but in this case the event is of profound interest to law enforcement … Read more

Notes on Steve Jobs shelved in e-books antitrust case

The notes from biographer Walter Isaacson's numerous interviews with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs will not be used as evidence in the Department of Justice's antitrust case against Apple.

That decision, made last week and reported earlier today by PaidContent, means that Isaacson will not have to testify either.

Isaacson is the author of "Steve Jobs," a book that chronicled the life of Jobs, based on interviews with the then-CEO of Apple, as well as his friends, family, colleagues, and rivals. It was published by Simon & Schuster (owned by CBS, parent company of CNET) weeks after … Read more

Evidence in Apple v. Samsung tossed for breaking the rules

U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh is not big on rule breakers, and today slapped both Apple and Samsung over filing paperwork that did not follow her guidelines.

In an order this morning, Koh said that some or all of 10 pieces of evidence pertaining to Apple's bid for a sales ban against a number of Samsung devices would be stricken as evidence for excessive length, something that's been an issue during the spat between the two tech giants.

During the trial last August, Koh complained that both companies were filing too much paperwork, leaving her and … Read more

Apple begins appeal in renewed bid to ban Samsung phones

Apple today told a U.S. district court judge in San Jose it would appeal her decision earlier this week not to ban sales of a number of Samsung phones.

Earlier this week Judge Lucy Koh denied Apple's bid for a sales ban on 26 Samsung products, saying that any infringing features were just part of a larger feature set, making a sales ban too broad. That decision meant Samsung can continue to sell those devices, which are mainly older models, in the U.S.

That sales ban effort was one of several following a jury verdict in August … Read more

What's next for Apple and Samsung?

It's been a busy week for Apple and Samsung, and there's still much more action expected.

The most recent move was a pair of orders late Monday that put the kibosh on Samsung's attempt to get a retrial, as well as Apple's bid for a ban a number of Samsung devices. U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh shot down both efforts.

What's left -- with this trial, at least -- is a judgement on damages: the amount Samsung needs to pay Apple, and one that's hotly contested by both sides. Apple wants to … Read more

Apple targets 8 Samsung phones for sales ban

Following last week's court ruling in the trial between it and Samsung, Apple this morning laid out which Samsung devices it wants banned from sale in the U.S.

There are eight in total out of the 28 that were included in the case. Those include: … Read more

Clock ticks down on a verdict in Apple v. Samsung

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- After sitting through more than three weeks of complicated and quite often technical testimony, the nine individuals in the celebrated patent infringement dispute pitting Apple against Samsung, now have to pick a victor.

Jurors began deliberating on Wednesday, but barring a surprise, may take some time to reach a decision.

Legal experts caution that unless you're actually in the room watching the process unfold, this is the messiest part of any trial -- almost comparable to trying to get a group of friends to decide on pizza toppings -- and thus and hardest to handicap. … Read more

Samsung closes by claiming Apple is stifling competition

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- While Apple has painted Samsung as a copycat, Samsung fired back today, saying that if Apple wins its case, consumers would lose.

"Your decision, if you go Apple's way, could change the way competition works in this country," Samsung attorney Charles Verhoeven told jurors after pointing to the large collection of press in the back of the courtroom who were there to see closing arguments from both sides in the Apple v. Samsung patent trial.

"Rather than competing in the marketplace, Apple is seeking a competitive edge in the courtroom," he … Read more

Apple's closing shot hits at Samsung 'copycat' docs

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Apple highlighted its broad collection of Samsung internal documents, and not the millions of dollars spent on witnesses, as reasons the jury should take its side in the patent case it filed against Samsung.

Apple attorney Harold McElhinny delivered the company's closing arguments in the form of a greatest hits from the evidence and testimony delivered during the company's trial with Samsung. However, he put the focus on the paperwork Apple obtained ahead of the trial.

"Witnesses can be mistaken. They can be mistaken in good faith," McElhinny said. "Exhibits that … Read more

Jury won't hear about Apple and Samsung's lost e-mails

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Facing disclosure to a jury that both Apple and Samsung failed to uphold document retention laws, the two companies struck a deal to keep the matter private.

The offer came during a public hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh earlier today as both sides hashed out last-minute jury instructions and the particulars of a verdict form.

After Koh told Apple that she would be siding with Samsung over a retaliatory filing that would require her to tell jurors that both companies failed to retain e-mails (and other documents that might be critical to … Read more