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The latest Samsung v. Apple trial wrapped up this afternoon after the jury decided that Samsung must pay Apple a total of $539 million for violating Apple's design patents with five android devices sold between 2010 and 2011, reports CNET.

A total of $533,316,606 was awarded to Apple for Samsung's violation of three design patents, while the remaining $5,325,050 was for Samsung's infringement on two of Apple's utility patents.

applevsamsung-800x259.jpg

Samsung and Apple were back in court to redetermined damages after Samsung appealed to the Supreme Court and said that the original damages award, which was set at $399 million after several appeals, was a "disproportionate" sum for the design violation.

The Supreme Court ordered the U.S. Court of Appeals to redetermine the damages amount, leading to today's victory for Apple.

The core issue of the retrial was whether the damages should be based on the total value of the iPhone or if Samsung's fee should be based on just the elements of the iPhone that it copied.

apple-v-samsung-2011.jpg

Apple argued that its payment should be based on the full value of the iPhone, while Samsung argued that it should pay a lesser amount. They're seeking profits on the entire phone," argued Samsung lawyer John Quinn. "Apple's design patents do not cover the entire phone. They are entitled to profits only on [infringing] components, not the entire phone."

Apple asked the jury to award $1 billion in damages, while Samsung asked jurors to limit the damages to $28 million. Unfortunately for Samsung, the jury sided with Apple, and the new award is more than Samsung would have had to pay had the retrial not happened.

In a statement, Apple had this to say: "It is a fact that Samsung blatantly copied our design. We're grateful to the jury for their service and pleased they agree that Samsung should pay for copying our products.

Update: Samsung also gave a statement on the verdict: "Today's decision flies in the face of a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in favor of Samsung on the scope of design patent damages. We will consider all options to obtain an outcome that does not hinder creativity."

Article Link: Samsung Ordered to Pay Apple $539 Million in iPhone Design Patent Retrial
 

Plutonius

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2003
9,005
8,343
New Hampshire, USA
Pretty much the results I thought would happen. Apple wanted 1 billion and Samsung wanted 28 million, so I thought they would average it out and come up with a $500 million award.

I doubt that Samsung will pay and that they will appeal the ruling.
 

rjohnstone

macrumors 68040
Dec 28, 2007
3,894
4,492
PHX, AZ.
Pay it and end this circus. Can't believe Apple got away with owning rounded corners.
They already paid it... they wanted a refund.
Instead they got a bill for a few million more.

Apple only won because their lawyers managed to get some key prior art tossed out.
Every other country where prior art was allowed in, Apple lost.

Let's hope this is the end of it.

As a side note, I'm sure Qualcomm is loving the outcome. If something as frivolous as rounded corners and icon layout can warrant this kind of cash, imagine what a crucial piece of tech should garner.
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,390
19,458
Last edited:

wbeasley

macrumors 6502a
Nov 23, 2007
994
1,078
“We will consider all options to obtain an outcome that does not hinder creativity."

How about not copying? Blatantly.

Yes all phones now look and act much the same. But back when this started Samsung went from one design to an almost exact copy. They do it in other industries too. That’s how they operate. Apple kept at them when most companies give up.
 

RedTomato

macrumors 601
Mar 4, 2005
4,155
442
.. London ..
I understand it’s a terrible thing Samsung did, but isn’t the award a bit high? Five trillion dollars is quite a lot for two patents, it’s several weeks of Apple’s entire operating revenue. They must be patents for anti-gravity or money-printing machines.

A total of $533,316,606 was awarded to Apple for Samsung's violation of three design patents, while the remaining $5,325,050 million was for Samsung's infringement on two of Apple's utility patents.
 
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