Apple Wins Over Jury in Samsung Patent Dispute, Awarded $1.05 Billion in Damages
«The nine-member jury sided almost entirely with Apple Inc. in its patent dispute case with Samsung Electronics Co., awarding Apple nearly $1.05 billion in a “sweeping victory” over claims that the Korean electronics maker copied the designs of its iPhone smartphone and iPad tablet.
The verdict comes after less than three full days of deliberation in a high-stakes trial overseen by U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose federal court.
“The jury’s $1 billion verdict is a sweeping victory for Apple. It solidifies Apple’s dominance of the market for smart phones and tablets,” said Steve Mitby, a partner with Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C. in Houston. “If the court issues an injunction based on the jury’s verdict, this would ban Apple’s key competitor from the market for months, if not years.”
Apple sued Samsung in April 2011, alleging it had “copied” the designs of the iPhone and iPad. Samsung countersued Apple in June 2011, saying the Cupetino, California-company had infringed on Samsung patents around wireless communications and camera phones.
The jury, made up of seven men and two women, today found no such infringement on Apple’s part and said Samsung was entitled to “zero” in damages.
Apple was seeking $2.5 billion in damages, and it called on the jury Aug. 21 to impose a heavy penalty on Samsung. “They will not change their way of operating if you slap them on the wrist,” Apple attorney Howard McElhinny said in his closing argument.
It wasn’t a clean sweep for Apple. The jury didn’t agree to some of Apple’s claims around the iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. Still, the overall impression after a read through of the 20-page verdict form, which contains 33 multi-part questions, showed the jury bought into Apple’s copying claims, particularly around the iPhone.»
Connie Guglielmo, Forbes Staff
Source: Forbes.com
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