Apple shortens life of one patent asserted against Samsung

In an attempt to fend off a Samsung counter-argument scheduled to be heard in the hearing on December 6, Apple has informed the court that it has filed to limit the “lifespan” of patent number D618,677 — one of the design patents it used to win a billion-dollar court victory against Samsung. The move doesn’t invalidate the patent, but does force the expiration to be limited to the earlier expiring one, shortening the life of the design patent by 18 months….