Can Apple Stop Samsung with Siri?

Though the first trial hasn’t exactly been going Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) way, the iPhone maker managed to sway U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh into proceeding with a second trial that has very similar aims to the first.

The cases in question are two patent trials between Apple and Samsung (SSNLF.PK). The first case was ruled on in August and favored Apple for a $1.05 billion fine against Samsung, but since then the fine has been reduced by about $450 million, and no sales ban has been implemented against Samsung.

While the first case continues in appeals, the second case almost was stalled by Judge Koh when she suggested suspending the trial until the first was completed. Apple resisted the idea of slowing the case down, as it wanted to press forward, continuing to seek a sales injunction against Samsung, this time over a search feature it claims the Galaxy maker stole from Apple’s Siri.

As Samsung’s latest device, the Galaxy S IV is planned to launch March 14, the reasoning for Apple’s urgency is clear. Samsung’s devices have continued to grow in popularity, much to the dismay of Apple, which has slowly been losing its grip around the world due to the Android OS’s swelling popularity. The new device may come at a sour point for Apple, as it has been several months since the launch of the iPhone 5.

Though the second trial will proceed, Judge Koh ordered Samsung and Apple to reduce the number of legal claims and expert witnesses in order to streamline the trial. This trial is just one of many that Apple has engaged in, with a large number being aimed at various makers that use Android — leading some to believe that these cases are a proxy war against Google (NASDAQ:GOOG).

Don’t Miss: Did Samsung Beat Apple to the Punch in this New Market?