Apple and Samsung Settle Seven-Year-Old iPhone Patent Dispute -- Update
June 27 2018 - 10:46PM
Dow Jones News
By Maria Armental
Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. have quietly settled a
dispute over Apple's design patents, putting an end to a costly,
yearslong fight that tested some of the central claims of design
theft and patent infringement.
The companies declined to comment on the terms of the
out-of-court settlement, which comes nearly four years after they
agreed to dismiss all patent disputes outside the U.S.
In documents filed Wednesday in a California federal court, the
companies said they agreed to end litigation with prejudice,
meaning another complaint can't be filed on the same claims.
Among some of the issues that were outstanding, and have now
been dismissed, are Apple's request for additional damages from the
sale of some Samsung phones following a 2012 jury verdict.
That verdict, which led to a rare design-patent challenge to the
U.S. Supreme Court and was partially revised last month, found that
11 smartphone models from the South Korean electronics giant
infringed Apple's design patents.
On Wednesday, a representative for Apple referred to a statement
the company issued last month after Samsung was ordered to pay $539
million for the patent violations.
"This case has always been about more than money," the company
said at the time. "Apple ignited the smartphone revolution with
iPhone, and it is a fact that Samsung blatantly copied our
design."
Samsung declined to comment.
Apple sued Samsung in 2011, accusing the South Korean company of
ripping off the look and other design elements of its products.
Samsung, Apple's top smartphone competitor and its main supplier
for high-end smartphone screens, countersued.
As part of Wednesday's dismissal, each company is responsible
for its attorneys' fees and legal costs.
Write to Maria Armental at maria.armental@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 27, 2018 22:31 ET (02:31 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024