Samsung loses countersuit; Apple cleared of infringement
updated 08:37 pm EDT, Fri August 24, 2012
US verdict contrasts with recent Korean ruling
Samsung has been dealt a significant blow in its legal battle with Apple in US court, as jurors rejected all claims in the Korean company's countersuit. In contrast to a split verdict in South Korean courts, US jurors remained unconvinced that Apple had infringed five of Samsung's patents related to software features used in mobile phones.
The Android smartphone maker argued that the iPhone and iPod touch copied technology from its '711 patent, describing methods for MP3 playback; its '893 patent, covering software for digital cameras; its '406 patent, focusing on sending photos via e-mail; its '941 patent, detailing packet data communication; and its '516 patent, which controls radio transmission power management.
Apple initially sued Samsung for infringing a range of patents, primarily related to trade dress and software for the iPhone and iPad. Although the jurors did not agree with all of Apple's allegations, such as the iPad trade dress claims, the company was awarded with over $1 billion in damages. The infringement was found to be willful in many cases, which could result in tripling of the damage award.
A three-judge panel in South Korean courts this week found that both Apple and Samsung were guilty of infringing each other's patents. Damages were limited to several thousand dollars in each case, however the court ordered a sales ban on the iPhone 4, iPad 2, Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Tab, and Galaxy Tab 10.1.
"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," Samsung said in a statement following the verdict in US court. "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."
