Apple filed a surprise lawsuit against Samsung, claiming that Samsung phones infringed multiple Apple designs, including the iPhone and iPad, but the ultimate goal may be more about public relations than a settlement or injunction. Apple has a serious chance of affecting Samsung's line of smartphones and tablets, although an actual judgment will take time.

While a judgment in Apple's favor would force Samsung to redesign their products, the lawsuit can be seen in another light. It's far more likely that it is part of a public relations effort by the company to derail the momentum that Android has going by introducing uncertainty int o the marketplace. In fact, Apple has already sued other Android smartphone makers like HTC and Motorla as well. This could be designed to intimidate Android manufacturers and disrupt Android smartphone development.