Smartphone biggies, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930), are involved in many patent disputes and with billions of dollars on stake. However, amid all these battles, good news for users is that patent war between will not affect the Smartphone users because by the time a ruling over any dispute comes the product in question become out of trend and useless, says a report from CNNMoney by Julianne Pepitone.
Dispute started in 2011
The tussle between Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Samsung goes back in April 2011, when Samsung was alleged by Apple for “slavishly” copying the iPhone and iPad design. In return, Samsung accused Apple of infringing on its software patents.
Apple won first round
California Jury, in August 2012, ruled that Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) has infringed most of the patents under trial along with the hardware and software specifications like double tap zooming. According to the ruling, Samsung was to pay $1 billion to Apple Inc. (AAPL) for damages, but later the amount was reduced to $450 million by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh due to “Jury error” in estimating damages. There was no ban on the eight phones that were under the question. Apple took away the win in this case.
Samsung won the second against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
In another case, Samsung filed a suit against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in a special court, in June 2011, in which it accused Apple of infringing its patent in its product iPhone 4 and iPad 2. Samsung won the case when International trade Commission (ITC) gave its verdict in favor of Samsung, in June 2013. It ruled that products under question cannot be sold in the United States. Generally ITC is a preferred body by companies for filing claims because it is easier to get a ban on the patent infringing products from here rather than following the traditional patent court system.
Decision pending
A week after Samsung filed a case against Apple Inc. (AAPL) in ITC, Apple also filed suit for multiple patent infringements, including the hardware design of the iPhone. Apple was given the benefit of preliminary ruling, but it hardly matters. Previously, also in the case where Samsung took away final verdict, on a preliminary basis Apple was acquitted. Ruling of this case will come on Friday.
In another round of patent battle, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) accused Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930) in February 2012 for infringing on utility patents in the latest products. Samsung filed a suit in response where it alleged Apple of infringing its patent through “all generations” of iPhone and iPad products. Apple then accused Samsung that its latest products are infringing the patents. However, court denied Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to list Galaxy 4 devise in the case. The case is scheduled for trial in March 2014.
