Documents show Google obligated to support Samsung in patent trial against Apple

Search giants Google have decided to come to support of Samsung by offering to defend the later in its ongoing **patent trial** against Apple. Google intends to help out Samsung with legal fees and pay some part of compensation if Apple wins the case. But it looks like it’s not entirely Google’s choice.   A Re/code report says that Google attorney James Maccoun has testified that Google will be aiding Samsung’s defence in the ongoing trial. The report further states, “Google’s obligations to defend Samsung stem, in part, from the “Mobile Application Distribution Agreement” under which Samsung agreed to distribute various Google applications, such as Gmail, on its Android devices.”   Of the four patent cases for which Google will lend a helping hand to Samsung, two have been already dropped even before the Apple-Samsung patent case began. Since the beginning of the trial Google was considered to be a sideline figure. But the latest revelation indicates that Google could play a major role in Samsung-Apple battle. Samsung and Google representatives did not comment on the report.   According to the site, Maccoun verified emails in which Google has approved to offer partial or full indemnity for the four patent cases and also provide defence for them. A majority of the patents infringements for which Apple is suing Samsung have features that Samsung alleges were created by Google. It also states that the testimony by the Google lawyer consisted of references to email exchange between Samsung and Google between May and December 2012. These emails showed the Google’s willingness to help its South Korean counterpart in its trial against Apple.   Google coming in support of Samsung reminds of **Nokia taking sides with Apple** against the South Korean smartphone leader. In 2013 the Finnish smartphone maker had filed a brief supporting Apple’s bid to secure permanent injunctions against several Samsung smartphones.