Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) defeated Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (KRX:005935) (LON:BC94) in South Korea after a court ruled in its favor and decided that it did not violate the mobile patents of its competitor.
Last year, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (KRX:005935) (LON:BC94) filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in South Korea on allegation that its products infringed on three of its patents related to messaging technology integrated on mobile devices.
The South Korean electronics company argued that the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, and iPad 2 violated two of the mobile patents involved in the case and requested that the court impose a sales ban on the products in the country. In addition, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (KRX:005935) (LON:BC94) sought 100 million won in damages from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) for violating its mobile patents.
Court rules in Apple’s favor
The Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). According to the court, the iPhone and iPad maker did not violate the two mobile patents in question. It rejected the request of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (KRX:005935) (LON:BC94) to prohibit the sales of the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5 and iPad 2 in South Korea. The court also ruled that Apple did not use the third patent in dispute in making its products.
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (KRX:005935) (LON:BC94) expressed disappointment with the ruling of the court. The company said, “We are disappointed by the court’s decision. As Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has continued to infringe our patented mobile technologies, we will continue to take the measures necessary to protect our intellectual property rights.”
On the other hand, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) said, “We are glad the Korean court joined others around the world in standing up for real innovation and rejecting Samsung’s ridiculous claims.”
Samsung beat Apple last year–kind of
In August, last year, Samsung scored a partial victory in the infringement battle in South Korea after a court ruled that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) violated two of the technical patents of its competitor. District Court Judge Bae Jun-hyun ordered the American technology giant to pay 40 million won ($35,279) to the South Korean electronics company and to remove all its of its patent infringing products from the country, including the iPhone 3S, iPhone 4, and iPad 1 and 2.
