Samsung-Apple Patent War
The jury of the San Jose Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California reached a verdict on May 2 (local time) that Samsung Electronics pay Apple US$119.6 million for two of its patents. Still, the jury also declared that Apple had infringed upon Samsung Electronics patents, and thus has to pay compensation of US$158,000.
Earlier than that, Apple demanded compensation of US$2.19 billion and a ban on the sale of major Samsung products such as the Galaxy S3 in the second round of litigation that started in March, claiming that Samsung Electronics had violated five of its patents. Specifically, the five are automatic word completion, data tapping for selective data launch, integrated Siri search, data synchronization, and slide to unlock. In response, Samsung Electronics demanded a reparation of US$6.32 million, claiming Apple’s violation of two of its patents for digital images and voice record transmission and remote image transmission.
The jury applied partial or whole infringement to the 647 Patent for data tapping and the 721 Patent for slide to unlock, and non-infringement to the 959 for integrated search and the 414 for data synchronization. It also judged that Samsung’s 449 Patent for digital image and voice record transmission had been violated by Apple, while the 239 for remote image transfer had not.
The jury decided partially in favor of both of the parties at this time. However, during the first round of litigation, not only the jury but also the judges took sides with Apple by compelling Samsung to pay US$929 million.
Industry insiders are interpreting the recent result as Samsung’s victory in view of the size of the compensation above all. “The amount the jury ordered to pay is less than 10 percent of what Apple called for,” said Santa Clara University School of Law Professor Brian Love, adding, “It is likely that the amount is even less than the litigation costs on the part of Apple.”