By: Aseem Gaurav on August 25, 2012
After a year of near-global mobile patent court battle between Apple and Samsung, a nine-member California jury has awarded Apple Inc more than $1.05 billion in damages.
The jury's verdict in the landmark case found that Samsung products had infringed on six of seven smartphone patents in question. At the same time the jury rejected patent claims by Samsung and its request for damages.
During arguments, Samsung's lawyers contended that the company was simple and legally offering consumers: smartphones with big screens. The company also denied Apple’s monopoly over rectangle phones with rounded corners that it claimed it created.
The two technology titans locked horns when Cupertino, California based Apple sued Samsung in April 2011, charging South Korean handset maker of copying its designs and features, which analysts view as an attack on Google and its Android software, which is driving Samsung’s sales.
The fierce rivalry between the two companies has been viewed by many as a battle to control the multi-billion dollar smartphone market. Jointly, Apple and Samsung, cell more than half of the world's smartphones and tablets.
Originally, Apple demanded $2.5 billion to $2.75 billion, because of the infringements, while Samsung sought $421.8 million in royalties for claims that Apple violated five patents.
The dispute began when Samsung released its Galaxy smartphones in 2010. And Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple who died last October, personally contacted Samsung to complain about potential intellectual property infringement.
Besides the United States, the two companies are also involved in a legal battle in countries like Britain, Australia and South Korea. The California case was the first to go to a US jury.
Legal experts view the current verdict as “huge and crushing win” for Apple which will also give the Cupertino-based company a leg up in a legal firestorm.
According to technology market researcher IDC, Samsung has a lead over Apple in smartphone sales with about 32 per cent of the market to Apple’s 17 per cent.
After a year of near-global mobile patent court battle between Apple and Samsung, a nine-member California jury has awarded Apple Inc more than $1.05 billion in damages.
The jury's verdict in the landmark case found that Samsung products had infringed on six of seven smartphone patents in question. At the same time the jury rejected patent claims by Samsung and its request for damages.
The two technology titans locked horns when Cupertino, California based Apple sued Samsung in April 2011, charging South Korean handset maker of copying its designs and features, which analysts view as an attack on Google and its Android software, which is driving Samsung’s sales.
The fierce rivalry between the two companies has been viewed by many as a battle to control the multi-billion dollar smartphone market. Jointly, Apple and Samsung, cell more than half of the world's smartphones and tablets.
Originally, Apple demanded $2.5 billion to $2.75 billion, because of the infringements, while Samsung sought $421.8 million in royalties for claims that Apple violated five patents.
The dispute began when Samsung released its Galaxy smartphones in 2010. And Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple who died last October, personally contacted Samsung to complain about potential intellectual property infringement.
Besides the United States, the two companies are also involved in a legal battle in countries like Britain, Australia and South Korea. The California case was the first to go to a US jury.
Legal experts view the current verdict as “huge and crushing win” for Apple which will also give the Cupertino-based company a leg up in a legal firestorm.
According to technology market researcher IDC, Samsung has a lead over Apple in smartphone sales with about 32 per cent of the market to Apple’s 17 per cent.
