Apple Win in Key Patent Battle Against Samsung

In a battles over patented technology, Apple has won a key patent case against Samsung. After finding that Samsung had infringed Apple’s patents back in 2011, the US International Trade Commission (IS ITC) has upheld its decision.

The patents relate to Apple patents for mobile phones, media players and tablets. The US ITC ruled that the Samsung devices covered by the ruling are banned from the US.

However, the ban is currently on hold, awaiting the US President Barak Obama to review the decision. The President has 60 days to consider the US ITC decision but analysts think it is unlikely he will overturn it.

In a statement Samsung said, “We are disappointed that the ITC has issued an exclusion order based on two of Apple’s patents. The proper focus for the smartphone industry is not a global war in the courts, but fair competition in the marketplace.”

Apple on the other hand welcomed the rulingn and said, “With today’s decision, the ITC has joined courts around the world in Japan, Korea, Germany, Netherlands and California by standing up for innovation and rejecting Samsung’s blatant copying of Apple’s products.”

The decision by the US ITC relates to two patents in particular. The first one is called the “Steve Jobs Patent“, which was named after the company’s founder and relates to touch-screen technology. The second patent is connected with the audio socket on devices.

Apple had put forward four other patents that they felt had been infringed but these were turned down by the court.

Apple and Samsung have been locked in battles for years now but it has escalated with Samsung overtaking Apple in smartphone sales. Friday’s ruling in favour of Apple has been seen as a victory for Apple, but nothing is certain until President Obama announces his decision.

[Image via blouinnews]

SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23643700