Apple Patent Fight: Google in Cross Hairs

Apple is flexing its legal muscle more squarely at Google in another patent fight against Samsung.

Last week's resounding victory over Samsung in a patent trial in California mostly centered on hardware developed by the South Korean electronics maker, while including some features related to Google's Android mobile software. Another Apple suit, which the company filed in February, contends that all eight of the patents it is asserting are being infringed by features related to Android. They include features found in Android versions of popular Google apps like YouTube, Google Maps and Gmail as well as Google's Quick Search Box that lets users search multiple types of data at the same time. As part of the case, Apple has sought to stop sales of the Galaxy Nexus phone, which Google developed with Samsung. In addition to sales through wireless carriers, Google sells the phone directly through an online store, taking a small cut of the sales. The suit is being characterized by some people involved in the proceedings as the "Google case" or the "Android war." And Google is paying attention.