Apple lawyers accused South Korea-based Samsung of copying Apple designs after realising it could not compete.

 

Samsung lawyers retorted saying a win for Apple would mean less choice for consumers.

 

The jury in the trial, which is in its fourth week, starts deliberation（审议，考虑） on Wednesday.

 

Apple is asking for more than $2.5bn (£1.6bn) in damages from Samsung for violating its patented designs and features in the iPad and iPhone. It is also asking for a sales ban.

 

In return, Samsung has counter sued, saying Apple infringed（侵犯，违反） its patents for key wireless² technology.

 

In his closing argument on Tuesday Apple lawyer Harold McElhinny told the jury that Samsung had employed a shortcut³ in its product design.

 

"In those critical three months, Samsung was able to copy and incorporate the result of Apple's four-year investment in hard work and ingenuity- without taking any of the risks," McElhinny said referring to the time spent working on Samsung phones by a South Korean designer who testified in the trial.

 

For his part, Samsung's lawyer Charles Verhoeven told the jury a verdict in favour of Apple meant competition would be stifled⁴ in the industry.

 

"Rather than competing in the marketplace, Apple is seeking a competitive edge in the courtroom," Verhoeven said in his closing statement.

 

"(Apple thinks) it's entitled to having a monopoly on a rounded rectangle with a large screen. It's amazing really." 

 

The closely watched trial has drawn⁵ worldwide attention and on Tuesday the courtroom was overflowing⁶ with observers, journalists, lawyers and analysts⁷.

点击收听单词发音