Judge again orders Apple, Samsung to streamline claims in iPad patent case

Apple and Samsung Electronics have until May 7 to further boil down the number of claims to be considered in the sweeping intellectual-property lawsuit concerning their smartphone and tablet products, which is now scheduled to go to trial July 30.

Judge Lucy Koh of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ordered the companies to pare down the case, in which Apple and Samsung are suing each other over patent infringement and other claims, so a jury can understand and fairly judge the issues in one trial. It was the second time the judge had asked them to downsize their claims. The order came at a case management conference at the court on May 2. In a joint statement filed May 1, Apple and Samsung each had offered to drop some patents and claims from the case but said lack of cooperation from the other side prevented greater streamlining. But that left 16 patents, six trademarks, five "trade dress" claims, and an antitrust case, with 37 products accused of violations. The companies each will have 25 hours to present their cases to a jury.