Companies awarded small damages

A South Korean court has ruled that both Apple and Samsung are guilty of patent infringement, bringing an end to two lawsuits filed last year. A three-judge panel outlined the split decision, which finds Apple guilty of infringing two Samsung patents and, conversely, Samsung has been found guilty of infringing one Apple patent. Both companies will be affected by product injunctions, though the monetary damage awards are minuscule.

Apple has been ordered to pay 20 million won (~$17,635 USD) violating design patents related to wireless technology, while Samsung has been ordered to pay 25 million won (~$22,083 USD) for copying Apple's "rubber banding" patent, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Although the damage awards may be considered insignificant, each company is now barred from selling several products in South Korea. Apple's iPhone 4 and iPad 2 are affected by the injunctions, along with Samsung's Galaxy S II and Galaxy Nexus phones, and the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets.

The companies can now file for appeal to have the entire cases reheard in appeals courts and potentially in the South Korea Supreme Court. The dispute mirrors several other lawsuits in other countries, including a case in the US that is currently awaiting a jury verdict.

By Electronista Staff

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