Crazy Consumer Electronics World: Google on the hook for some costs, damages in Apple vs Samsung trial

The court battle between Samsung and Apple has long been considered a proxy fight for a larger war between the iPhone maker and Google. Now, we have concrete evidence the Android purveyor is playing a key role behind the scenes.

Emails between Google and Samsung were dissected and authenticated, revealing Google agreed to help the firm behind the Galaxy S5 defend itself against patent infringement claims related to its technology.

The 2012 emails show Google was prepared to "defend and indemnify" Samsung in the use of its tech (specifically two patents related to universal search), of which Apple claims rips off its patents. As it stands, only one of the patents Google agreed to help defend is still on the table in this trial.

Google would not only pay for some of the defense costs, but it would also help cover any damages Samsung was ordered to pay Apple, according to the emails.

It's all in the fine print

The agreement to pay for some defense and damage costs stems from a "Mobile Application Distribution Agreement" between Samsung and Google.

Samsung agreed to stick Google apps on its Galaxy devices, and in return Google signed on to help Samsung in cases, such as this one, where the legality of the use of its technology was called into question.

Google patent attorney James Maccoun provided a taped deposition regarding the emails and agreement, and he outlined the set-up between Google and Samsung as one where Google would supply apps as well as backup in case a legal issue - such as this one - arose.

It's not apparent how much if any help Samsung has received or will receive from Google.

Apple is seeking $2 billion (about £1b, AU$2.1b) in damages from Samsung, while Samsung has countered Cupertino owes it $6.2 million (about £3.6m, AU$6.6m) for infringement on its own patents. Unlike the 2012 trial between the two hardware behemoths, this go-round deals with more recent devices, including the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3.

More than a tussle over devices, the court proceedings are about seeing who will dominant the mobile landscape in the years to come. If one can keep key features from making it to the other's future phones as well as cease sales of old and current devices, then it's one less fight that has to play out in the market.

That is, if the appeals ever end.