Following the reports that Samsung is investigating the controversial 10-year licensing agreement between Apple and HTC, U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Grewal is now ordering Apple to disclose the financial terms of the licensing agreement, asking the company to produce a copy for the “attorneys- eyes-only.” Apple lawyers previously said that HTC is willing to submit a copy, provided that the financial terms will be disclosed. This prompted Samsung lawyers to argue that the financial terms of the agreement are “highly relevant” to their lawsuit against Apple.
Samsung lawyer Daryl Crone told Grewal that if indeed HTC agreed to pay a small amount to Apple for its patents, the situation could be used to “undermine Apple’s argument that it has suffered irreparable harm.” Judge Grewal said,“HTC is not entitled to special treatment, especially when it has recognized the general sufficiency of the protective order and the integrity of Samsung’s outside counsel.” Samsung is also taking the offensive by adding three generations of the iPad Touch, the iPad mini, and the iPad 4 to its patent infringement claims.