Samsung is decrying the verdict it lost to Apple in the recent Patent Retrial
Barring a huge smoking gun that never appeared, Samsung was all but assured a loss in the recent Apple v. Samsung patent retrial. Well, that’s at least my opinion. Your mileage may vary.
In total, Samsung had been ordered to pay Apple $1.05B in damages. However, Judge Lucy Koh reduced that amount by over $400M. Samsung was still on the hook for approximately $600M. A retrial was ordered on the damages, with Judge Koh asking Apple to reassess what they felt they were entitled to. Apple asked for $380M.
They were recently awarded an addition $290M, or just over 76% of their requested amount. That brings Samsung’s total liability – barring any appeals, which I’m certain you can count on – to $890M.
When asked for a comment on the recent verdict, Apple had the following to say,
“For Apple, this case has always been about more than patents and money,” Apple said in a statement following the verdict. “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.”
Samsung has been trying to get the entire case thrown out of court and had filed two demands for mistrial. One was for an alleged anti-Asian statement by Apple counsel, Bill Lee. Mr. Lee is him self, an Asian-American. So, uh… yeah, no.
Samsung also tried to have the case dismissed via mistrial due to a statement from the USPTO demanding that Apple defend its patent claims against invalidity.
Both requests were denied.
I’ve owned a number of Samsung devices. There’s no doubt in my mind, based on the visual evidence alone, that Samsung copied Apple designs. It is, in my opinion, blatant. I mean… just look at the device comparison graphic from the trial of Samsung devices before and after the introduction of the iPhone. If that’s not blatant copying, I don’t know what is.
However, that’s my opinion. I’d love to hear what you have to say. Why don’t you join me in the discussion below and give me your opinion.
