The long-running Samsung-Apple trial ended today with Apple awarded over $1 million in damages. Samsung described the results as a bad day for consumers and accused Apple of holding an unbalanced amount of power.
The jury found that Samsung infringed on the "'381 bounce back" scrolling functionality, and Apple's '915 patent covering pinching, zooming, and scrolling was infringed by Samsung on all but 3 devices: the Samsung Ace, Intercept, and Replenish; Samsung also infringed the '163 tap to zoom patent with its devices other than the Captivate, Indulge, Intercept, Nexus S 4G, Transform, and Vibrant. The largest portion of damages came from the Samsung Prevail (over $57 million).
The jury originally awarded $1,051,855,000 in damages, but it awarded Apple an additional $2.2 million in damages after Apple appealed.
In a countersuit by Samsung, the jury found no infringement by Apple on Samsung's utility patents.
Apple and Samsung both issued PR statements after the verdict.
"The mountain of evidence presented during the trial showed that Samsung's copying went far deeper than we even knew," Apple said, adding it values originality and "innovation" while praising the court for sending the message "that stealing isn't right".
Meanwhile, Samsung said that the loss should be viewed as "loss for the American consumer". It described the result as "unfortunate" for allowing a company "a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners, or technology that is being improved every day by Samsung". Samsung appeared to be prepared to launch a hearing: "This is not the final word in this case," it said.
Late Apple CEO Steve Jobs stated during the unveiling of the original iPhone in 2007, just after referring to the then new touch display, that the company had patented the technology. While Samsung may have a point when referring to Apple's domination, this verdict could force Samsung to introduce a completely different design.
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