Apple wins patent infringement case of more than $1 billion against Samsung!
The US federal court jury in the patent infringement case between Apple and Samsung just ordered Samsung to pay Apple more than $1 Billion or $1,049,343,540.00 in particular after ruling that Samsung infringed on six of seven Apple’s patents for a variety of smartphones and tablet, requiring it to pay Apple in damages. The staggering $1 Billion award is just half of the $2.5 Billion Apple was seeking. More details after the jump.
The jury's decision is that Samsung was mainly found to have infringed on Apple’s bounceback patent with all 21 products in question. On the pinch-and-zoom patent, jury ruled all but three of the devices listed infringed. The jury decided that not only did it willfully infringe on five of the seven Apple patents. But, it also upheld the validity of Apple’s patents when it came to utility, design and trade dress.
As to Samsung’s counterclaims, the jury also ruled that Apple did not infringe upon Samsung's patents with the iPhone 3G and 3GS, and has awarded it zero dollars in damage. The only major win for Samsung in the case is that the jury did not think the Galaxy Tab 10.1 copied the iPad.
Both Apple and Samsung have issued their respective statements on the verdict.
Apple:
We are grateful to the jury for their service and for investing the time to listen to our story and we were thrilled to be able to finally tell it. The mountain of evidence presented during the trail showed that Samsung’s copying went far deeper than even we knew. The lawsuits between Apple and Samsung were about much more than patents or money. They were about values. At Apple, we value originality and innovation and pour our lives into making the best products on earth. We make these products to delight our customers, not for our competitors to flagrantly copy. We applaud the court for finding Samsung’s behavior willful and for sending a loud and clear message that stealing isn’t right.
Samsung:
Today’s verdict should not be viewed as a win for Apple, but as a loss for the American consumer. It will lead to fewer choices, less innovation, and potentially higher prices. It is unfortunate that patent law can be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners, or technology that is being improved every day by Samsung and other companies. Consumers have the right to choices, and they know what they are buying when they purchase Samsung products. This is not the final word in this case or in battles being waged in courts and tribunals around the world, some of which have already rejected many of Apple’s claims. Samsung will continue to innovate and offer choices for the consumer.
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