This mistake haunted Steve Jobs forever.
Jobs trusted Samsung to help build the iPhone.
Then Samsung stole Apple's designs & launched the Galaxy.
Jobs response? "I'll spend every penny of Apple's B to destroy them".
The brutal story of what happened next:🧵
In 2004, Jobs began developing the top-secret iPhone project, working to create a device that would change technology forever.
The team operated in total secrecy.
They isolated in their own building with strict confidentiality rules.
But Jobs faced one critical problem...
Apple couldn't mass-produce custom processors and displays.
Despite concerns about sharing tech, Jobs reached out to Samsung—one of the few companies that could deliver at Apple's scale.
But this decision would trigger tech's greatest corporate war:
By 2007, iPhone revolutionized smartphones with its touchscreen.
But while Samsung were making components, they had access to Apple's secret engineering plans.
And what they did next shocked everyone...
Samsung launched the Galaxy S, and the similarities were striking:
• Similar app grid
• Rounded corners
• Touchscreen interface
• Single button front face
And Jobs' reaction was explosive...
This wasn't just competition.
It was a betrayal from a trusted partner who'd used inside access to copy Apple's product.
Jobs called an emergency meeting as soon as he saw the Galaxy S...
Here's what he said:
"This isn't competition—this is theft."
"They're stealing our work. Our inventions. Everything."
And then, Jobs delivered his ultimatum:
"I'm going to destroy Android because it's a stolen product."
This battle was about to transform tech forever...
Jobs launched a legal case against Samsung in April 2011.
Apple filed patent lawsuits across multiple countries—the complaint showed side-by-side comparisons of "slavishly copied" designs.
Until one piece of evidence shocked an entire courtroom...
During the trial, Apple's lawyers found a 132-page Samsung document comparing the Galaxy S to the iPhone.
It had INSTRUCTIONS to make products more Apple-like.
The jury was convinced.
And what happened next made legal history...
The verdict: Samsung had willfully infringed on Apple's patents.
The jury awarded Apple .05B – one of the largest IP (intellectual property) verdicts ever.
This was Jobs' revenge from beyond the grave... he'd sadly died less than a year earlier.
But the story wasn't over:
Despite losing, Samsung refused to back down.
They appealed, reducing damages to 8M, paid in 2015.
Their marketing positioned Galaxy as the anti-iPhone, for people who didn't want to join Apple's "cult."
But the ironic part?
Apple are still winning.
They control 28% of the global smartphone market vs Samsung's 23%, with a fiercely loyal customer base.
So with the same tech, why couldn't Samsung destroy Apple?
The answer teaches a crucial lesson:
Apple's real advantage wasn't patents. It was customer connection.
While Samsung worked on tech, Apple focused on their branding.
They interacted with customers, encouraging them to create, connect, and “change the world for the better.”
Because Apple understood this:
People don't buy from generic corporations.
They buy into stories, values, and branding.
When people bought AirPods, they weren't just buying earphones; they were buying into Apple's movement—sleek, minimalistic, professional.
But the biggest companies today share one thing:
They all invest in their founders' personal brand.
Tesla has a cult following, thanks to Elon.
People trust Meta because they know Zuckerberg's story.
And in 2025, this is your most significant advantage...
Your unique, personal brand:
• Can't be copied
• Builds trust at scale
• Attracts opportunities while you sleep
The best part? You can start building it today...
Founders: We’ll build your personal/company brand on 𝕏 (and beyond) without you lifting a finger.
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Interested in how we can do this for you? Book your free discovery call here: http://form.typeform.com/to/JWuXNkxQ?utm_source=tpxpostt
Thanks for reading! A bit about me:
2 years ago, I cofounded @ThoughtleadrX — a premium personal branding agency for world-class founders, executives, and investors looking to dominate socials.
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Video Credits:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxBc1c3uAJw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlJICSCNMRQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NE1hp_uDT0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB1akzuZv4U
https://www.wsj.com/video/apple-wins-big-in-samsung-patent-trial/FDA99090-876F-49E8-B75E-5DF974E869A1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oPXtfZlsto
