As industry juggernauts Apple and Samsung trade blows in court, The Kernel has taken a look at the proverbial skeletons lurking in Samsung's closet. The piece dissects the chaebol's use of corporate slush funds and pressure on journalists — including de facto ownership of the Joongang Daily, a major South Korean newspaper — to secure the company's reputation, and keep the Korean ambassador to the US and local politicians in line. Samsung's rocky legal history serves as a sordid backdrop to its current legal battle, undermining efforts to prove that the company didn't copy Apple's design mantra wholesale, or that its legal team can be trusted to speak truthfully when presenting evidence in court. It's a scathing read, but an insightful look at the company's most notorious legal blunders.