Definitive Proof the Apple vs. Samsung Case Is Really About Google

Apple’s on-going patent lawsuit against Samsung has long been cast as a proxy war against Google, the maker of the Android operating system that powers the Samsung devices competing with the iPhone. New evidence revealed during the Samsung-Apple trial illustrate that Google is in fact a direct player in the conflict.

On Tuesday Apple brought forth a deposition by a Google employee confirming that Google had sent emails to Samsung offering to help pay some of the cell phone manufacturer’s legal costs in the case. Google even offered to help pay for some of the damages if Samsung loses. Google said it would provide financial aid regarding two of the five patents that Apple has brought to trial. Apple is seeking a total of $2.2 billion in damages in the infringement case.

Earlier in the trial, Google employees testified on Samsung’s behalf, saying that Google had independently created some of the technology Apple is litigating over for its own Android platform before the iPhone launched.

The patent trial has led to the airing of much dirty laundry among some of the world’s largest tech giants. Samsung acknowledged that Steve Jobs’ death would provide Apple an “unintended benefit,” for example, and Apple fretted over the effectiveness of Samsung ads mocking the iPhone.