HispanicBusiness

Apple (AAPL) and Samsung, two tech giants waging a global legal war over patents on smartphones and tablets, have been squaring off in federal court in San Jose for nearly two years in a crucial battleground for bragging rights in the U.S. marketplace. Here is what has unfolded so far in the Silicon Valley court battle:

April 2011: Apple sues Samsung alleging its smartphones and tablets "slavishly copied" the iPhone and iPad in a host of smartphones and tablets, including Galaxy 10.1 tablet.

April 2011: Samsung countersues Apple, alleging Apple's iPhone and iPad infringe on Samsung technology patents.

June 2011: Samsung sues Apple in International Trade Commission for infringing patents in its iPhones and iPads.

February 2012: Apple files second lawsuit accusing Samsung of copying designs in 17 smartphones and tablets, including the Galaxy Nexus smartphone.

June 2012: U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh blocks U.S. sales of Galaxy 10.1 tablet, finding Apple likely to prevail in patent claims.

June 2012: Koh blocks U.S. sales of Galaxy Nexus smartphone, finding Apple likely to prevail in patent claims.

August 2012: Federal jury in San Jose finds Samsung "willfully" infringed Apple's patents on more than a dozen smartphones and tablets, and awards more than $1 billion in damages.

August 2012: Apple adds more products to second lawsuit against Samsung, including Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note smartphones.

September 2012: Federal appeals court clears way to lift injunction on Galaxy 10.1 tablet.

September 2012: Samsung moves to set aside $1 billion jury verdict.

September 2012: International Trade Commission finds Apple did not infringe Samsung patents.

October 2012: Koh dissolves Galaxy 10.1 tablet preliminary injunction, cites jury findings that rejected patent claim.

October 2012: Federal appeals court overturns injunction against Galaxy Nexus smartphone.