In a retrial of the bitterly-fought courtroom battle between Samsung and Apple, a new jury has found Samsung guilty of patent infringement across several patents owned by Apple. Last year’s trial saw a similar verdict, with the jury awarding $1.05 billion to the American company in damages, to be paid by the Korean giants. It was later reduced to less than $600 million after it was decided that the jury had incorrectly determined the amount of damages to be paid.
The total amount awarded this time is $290,456,793, close to $100 million less than the $380 million Apple were looking for. In contrast, Samsung were only looking to pay $52 million in damages in this retrial. All put, the total damages Samsung are required to pay Apple amounts close to a staggering $890 million – though it’s still less than the $2.7 billion Apple were originally looking for.
Nevertheless, in its statement Apple were adamant that the trials “were not about the money”:
“For Apple, this case has always been about more than patents and money. It has been about innovation and the hard work that goes into inventing products that people love. While it’s impossible to put a price tag on those values, we are grateful to the jury for showing Samsung that copying has a cost.”
And here’s Samsung’s statement released after the retrial:
“We are disappointed by today’s decision, which is based in large part on a patent that the US Patent and Trademark Office has recently deemed invalid. While we move forward with our post-trial motions and appeals, we will continue to innovate with groundbreaking technologies and great products that are loved by our many customers all around the world.”
Unfortunately, the verdict is unlikely to be uncontested. Samsung is highly likely to be appealing the verdict, and seek to lower the damages. Apple, on the other hand, could also appeal for even more money. As The Verge notes, the only way this increasingly bitter feud would end is outside of the courtroom, with a settlement agreement – though that is very unlikely to happen.
(Source: The Verge)
Protectionism rearing its ugly head