Calif. Jury Orders Samsung to Pay Apple $1 Billion in Patent Infringement Verdict
- Posted on August 24, 2012 at 7:00pm by
Jason Howerton
- Print »
- Email »
Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S III, right, and Apple's iPhone 4S, left. (Credit: AP)
SAN JOSE, Calif. (TheBlaze/AP) — After a year of scorched-earth litigation, a jury decided Friday that Samsung ripped off the innovative technology used by Apple to create its revolutionary iPhone and iPad.
The jury ordered Samsung to pay Apple $1.05 billion. An appeal is expected.
The verdict was reached Friday in the epic smartphone patent infringement case involving Apple and Samsung. The jury determined that Samsung violated the Apple patents for the “bounce back,” scroll, zoom and navigate features, CNBC reported. However, the jury said the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 did not infringe Apple’s overall design.
Apple Inc. filed its patent infringement lawsuit in April 2011 and engaged legions of the country’s highest-paid patent lawyers to demand $2.5 billion from its top smartphone competitor. Samsung Electronics Co. fired back with its own lawsuit seeking $399 million.
But the day belonged to Apple as the jury rejected all Samsung’s claim against Apple. The jury did reject some of Apple’s claims against the two dozen Samsung devices at issue, declining to award the $2.5 billion Apple demanded.
During closing arguments, Apple attorney Harold McElhinny claimed Samsung was having a “crisis of design” after the 2007 launch of the iPhone, and executives with the South Korean company were determined to illegally cash in on the success of the revolutionary device.
Samsung’s lawyers countered that it was simply and legally giving consumers what they want: Smart phones with big screens. They said Samsung didn‘t violate any of Apple’s patents and further alleged innovations claimed by Apple were actually created by other companies.
Samsung has emerged as one of Apple’s biggest rivals and has overtaken Apple as the leading smartphone maker.
Samsung’s Galaxy line of phones run on Android, a mobile operating system that Google Inc. has given out for free to Samsung and other phone makers.
Samsung conceded that Apple makes great products but said it doesn’t have a monopoly on the design of rectangle phones with rounded corners that it claimed it created.
The trial came after each side filed a blizzard of legal motions and refused advisories by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh to settle the dispute out of court.
Deliberations by the jury of seven men and two women began Wednesday.
Samsung has sold 22.7 million smartphones and tablets that Apple claimed uses its technology. McElhinny said those devices accounted for $8.16 billion in sales since June 2010.
Apple and Samsung combined account for more than half of global smartphone sales.
As part of its lawsuit, Apple also demanded that Samsung pull its most popular cellphones and computer tablets from the U.S. market.
From the beginning, legal experts and Wall Street analysts viewed Samsung as the underdog in the case. Apple’s headquarters is a mere 10 miles from the courthouse, and jurors were picked from the heart of Silicon Valley where Apple’s late founder Steve Jobs is a revered technological pioneer.
While the legal and technological issues were complex, patent expert Alexander I. Poltorak previously said the case would likely boil down to whether jurors believe Samsung‘s products look and feel almost identical to Apple’s iPhone and iPad.
To overcome that challenge at trial, Samsung‘s lawyers argued that many of Apple’s claims of innovation were either obvious concepts or ideas stolen from Sony Corp. and others. Experts called that line of argument a high-risk strategy because of Apple’s reputation as an innovator.
Apple’s lawyers argued there is almost no difference between Samsung products and those of Apple, and presented internal Samsung documents they said showed it copied Apple designs. Samsung lawyers insisted that several other companies and inventors had previously developed much of the Apple technology at issue.
The U.S. trial is just the latest skirmish between the two tech giants over product designs. Previous legal battles were fought in Australia, the United Kingdom and Germany.
The U.S. case is one of some 50 lawsuits among myriad telecommunications companies jockeying for position in the burgeoning $219 billion market for smartphones and computer tablets.
Samsung won a home court ruling Friday in the global patent battle against Apple.
Judges in Seoul said Samsung didn‘t copy the look and feel of the iPhone and ruled that Apple infringed on Samsung’s wireless technology.
However, the judges also said Samsung violated Apple’s technology behind the feature that causes a screen to bounce back when a user scrolls to an end image. Both sides were ordered to pay limited damages.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 667 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 525 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 371 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 364 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 326 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 247 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 254 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order Read More
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 247 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (42)
lvjohn
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 11:18amHere‘s the problem apple sues everybody they don’t innovate they sue, if Samsung copied their I phone how com 60% of the I phone is made with Samsung hardware. Samsung Galaxy siii phones beat the crap out of I Phones. Don‘t buy Apple junk it is assemble using forced labor in China at Foxconn’s factory.
Report Post »lessoneleg
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 10:52amboy oh boy, that lawsuit dealing with the “wheel” is gunna be a hum dinger.
Look at the infringements over time that one will pay out on.
Report Post »scruffycat
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 7:38amhere is another un-reported headline from yesterday:
SAMSUNG WINS LAWSUIT over Apple in South Korean Court
“Judges in Seoul said Samsung Electronics Co. didn’t copy the look and feel of the iPhone and ruled that Apple infringed on Samsung’s wireless technology.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/court-bans-sales-of-some-apple-samsung-products-in-south-korea-as-patent-war-unfolds/2012/08/23/80c9b1da-ed99-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html
Report Post »RushEcho2
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 7:14amRush Limbaugh (and I) love the innovation of Apple (in spite of prior Left-leanings, and Algore being on the board, I think); and he says they are three to five years ahead. He talks about the American way of working hard and achieving success. And he considers new Apple products to be Christmastime.
Report Post »Atrocities
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 1:21amApple stole this technology in the first place sooooo…………
Report Post »rsanchez1
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 1:13amHate Apple so much.
Report Post »FightingBear
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 7:34amWhy?
Is it because they make a product the public wants and they market that product extremely well?
What difference does it make to you whether or not they are a successful company? How does Apple affect your life enough for you to hate them? Why do you give them so much power over your life? …. You have to give them a lot of power over your life to produce an emotion as strong as hatred?
Report Post »Platonician
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 12:13amThis is corrupt crony capitalism. No wonder Apple supports Obama. Getting a Samsung soon.
Report Post »Batman2000
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 11:56pmFrom looking just at the picture illustrating this article one has to undestand that Apple is in full panic mode. How long you think they can keep suing competition away? Their dominance is showing cracks from long ago.
Report Post »Texunchief
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 11:07pmWhy the hate for Apple? If they had not developed the iPhone, we would all still be using flip phones and laptops. What has happened to civil disagreements? The hate espoused in our political process is bleeding over into everyday life. I like the iPhone, you like the Galaxy. . . and we are both happy.
The judge didnot decide anything, the jury did. To say they are uneducated because you disagree is narrow-mined. If you were not on the jury, you do not have the facts. Remember, the truth lives here.
Report Post »Cadcamtrainer
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 2:21amWonder what is wrong with our country??? We hate American companies but Love a Korean company…… When you loose your job to a foreign company blame yourself.
Report Post »Honestybefore truth
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 7:40amApple did not invent the smart phone, nor the shape. Neither did they invent lap tops, the personal computer, notebooks(tablets), the touch screen, mp player, the mouse, or the concept behind the user interface that both Microsoft and Mac became famous for. What they do is take others work and repackage it in a prettier design. And by the way, for many people, Windows is the more intuitive interface (someone told me that left handed people tend to prefer Mac at a higher percentage, but whatever).
Report Post »Texunchief
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 11:21am@Honesty. . . I did not say Apple invented the smartphone. However, after they introduced the iPhone, the competition had to play catch-up.
. . .What they do is take others work and repackage it in a prettier design. . . This is called “free market.” It happens all the time, hence GM, Ford, Toyota, etc.. As consumers, we can choose the product that best suits our needs and desires.
Why do some want to destroy the companies who are at the top? This is the liberal mantra, attack the successful. Just one step closer to a socialist state. For me, I will continue to purchase Apple products, whether they are #1 or #100. You can continue to purchase Samsung products. In America, you have that choice.
Report Post »Honestybefore truth
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:04amTex;
Report Post »I did not say that you did. I simply don’t care for Apple; either its products or its corporate philosophy or for most of the iconoclastic customer base.
no1hd
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 10:51pmRemember the US is not the only apple product and california is not the only court..
Samsung has the ability and will probably use it..
Put out duplicate apple products for a penny on the apple dollar..
A few months and apple is toast..
Most consumers are tired of the protection apple is afforded by our system..
I almost, I found some drawings from my school years and they are squares – do I need a lawyer..
Report Post »Average_Joseph
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 8:06amBut did your squares have rounded corners?
Report Post »SammyStutsfruckle
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 10:18pmAhhh, isn’t our crooked justice system wonderful? Another judge paid off by Apple. Nice. Fk you Apple I have a brand spankin’ new Samsung Epic Touch and love it.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 10:10pmIPAD and Tablets are trash, i am getting a netbook instead.
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 9:44pmBuild it yourself?
hehehehehehehehe
Report Post »dave88
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 9:10pmThis is what happens when you have uneducated jurors. Plus, I bet Apple will never see a cent of it. Plus, Samsung phones are still far superior to the iphones.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:41pmEvery one of my friends who has an iphone likes mine better. That says it all for me.
Report Post »IamEvilHomer
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:28pmApple sucks
Report Post »bpodlesnik
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 8:37amExcuse me, your jealousy is showing.
Report Post »Maxim Crux
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:21pmSo, does this mean that you can’t get this Samsung in California now?
Report Post »dawghowse
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:16pmVery stupid jury! And you can’t fix stupid!!
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 7:45pmListen lawyer boy, you tell stupid Americans, we no copy nothing, we no copy. To prove, you show name. Samsung no even spell same as Apple. You do this now or we give you manicure, from neck up.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 7:41pmI will NEVER have an iphone, they can’t use swype. POSs.
Report Post »American Soldier (Separated)
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:11pmDid you mean Skype? My iPhone handles Skype as if I wee receiving a normal phone call. I‘d say that’s handling it pretty well.
Report Post »Toltepeceno
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:19pmAmerican Soldier (Separated) No, he’s talking about swype.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:37pmNo, I can spell, I mean S…W…Y…P…E. iphones can’t use it. Unless you jailbreak your phone. Smart phones can.
Report Post »PedalGirl
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 7:28pmDid my Galaxy just become a collector’s item??? I’ve got friends with iphones… not even the same. Mine is better. :)
Report Post »Toltepeceno
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:21pmThe wife has an iphone 4s and I have an sgs2. She wants mine, but no way.
Report Post »Scaz
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 7:22pm“Samsung conceded that Apple makes great products but said it doesn’t have a monopoly on the design of rectangle phones with rounded corners that it claimed it created.”
It’s got a monopoly now…and the sheeple love it.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:33pmAgreed! Samsung can say that it makes the best TV though!
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 7:17pmApple’s stock price should get a bump.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 7:20pmI have heard a South Korean justice has ordered both companies in Korea to pull their goods due to both of them violating multi pattents of the other. Guess China and Russia are happy, now Obama will be able to ensure more secrets get to them w/o the lawsuits continuing.
Report Post »The Jewish Avenger
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 7:16pmGreat, the only thing I actually thought about investing in recently and Apple has a MINE complex…
I cant wait for someone to topple “Job’s Dream Team” and his liberal gang bangers.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 7:10pmCalifornia should be sued by the USSR, they have infringed on their soviet style and blueprints.
Maybe God should sue Obama for infringing on the Messiah model that he touts. But I think Richard Head should personally sue Obama, he has a copy right on being a Richard Head, and Obama has taken that to a whole other level.
Report Post »