Samsung is being forced to pay $290m to rival company, Apple, after a court ruled it copied some of the company’s features. We answer five questions on the payout.
Who made the ruling?
A jury in Silicon Valley ruled that Samsung must pay the significant sum to rival Apple for copying iPhone and iPad features in its devices – these are mostly older Samsung tablets and smartphones.
This verdict comes after a previous jury found Samsung owed Apple $1.05bn for copyright infringement – but a US District Judge found the jury miscalculated the amount Samsung must pay and so ordered a retrial.
Is this the only payment Samsung has to make to Apple?
No. The company also has to pay $550m as a result of the initial verdict. So, in total Samsung is being forced to pay Apple close to $930m in the case.
Apple’s shares were boosted by the news and they traded slightly higher today. Samsung closed down slightly earlier in the day.
What features are Samsung ruled to have copied?
It was found that Samsung infringed Apple patents such as one that allows users to “pinch and zoom” on smartphone and tablet screens.
What has Apple said about winning the case?
Apple said in a statement: “For Apple, this case has always been about more than patents and money. 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.”
And Samsung?
It is believed the company plans to appeal the ruling.
In court Samsung’s lawyer William Price, according to the BBC, argued “Apple doesn’t own beautiful and sexy.”
He argued that Apple shouldn’t have ownership over the basic rectangle shape of smartphones.
Is this the end of the story?
No. This ruling only covers 13 of the 26 Samsung devices that Apple had argued copied its technology.
A separate trial is pending to determine whether or not current Samsung devices also violate Apple’s patents. It is scheduled for March 2014.
Apple has also requested the judge consider a sales ban against all of the older Samsung models that used Apple’s technology. However, the judge has previously refused to do so but a separate US Appeals Court has asked for this to be reconsidered.
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