U.S Jurors in federal court determined Samsung violated multiple Apple patents last Friday thereby awarding Apple over a billion dollars in damages. The decision came as a major development in Apple and Samsung's nasty legal war which comprises of a series of court battles waged across the globe spanning four continents. However, the loss suffered by Samsung on Friday was unprecedented not only in the net sum awarded to Apple, but also in the potential ramifications. Apple is seeking a permanent preliminary ban on U.S sales of a Samsung tablet PC and an extension of a ban on Samsung smartphones. The following Samsung products are currently the target of the ban:
Smartphones
The $1.045 billion certainly a staggering sum; however, considering the fact that Samsung made a profit of $4.5 billion in the most recent June quarter alone, it would seem as though monetary damages may not be the greatest concern for Samsung. The injunction levied against them may prove to have a much more severe impact in the long run. While only a handful of Samsung's products are facing bans at the moment, if more of its products are encompassed in the injunction it could cost them many times more than the +$1 billion verdict. Also, lowered investor confidence as a result of the ruling sent Samsung shares plummeting to a four year low.
On the plus side, consumers may turn out as winners in the end. Analysts and legal experts believe vendors will be forced to innovate to avoid Apple patent lawsuits. “Companies will need to be much more careful about adopting Apple's design language,” Says Van Lindberg, an IP and Open source attorney. “Other companies will be forced to adopt new and less Apple-like designs.”
Garnter analyst Michael Gartenberg concurs. “Apple patents being upheld will force industry toward innovation and differentiation. That's not a bad thing.”
A scanned copy of the Jury verdict form used in the ruling can be viewed here.
Smartphones
- Samsung Galaxy Prevail
- Samsung S2 Epic 4G
- Samsung Galaxy S 4G
- Samsung Galaxy S2 T-Mobile
- Samsung Galaxy S Showcase
- Samsung Galaxy S2 AT&T
- Samsung S2 Skyrocket
- Samsung Droid Charge
- Samsung Nexus S 4G
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Cellular)
The $1.045 billion certainly a staggering sum; however, considering the fact that Samsung made a profit of $4.5 billion in the most recent June quarter alone, it would seem as though monetary damages may not be the greatest concern for Samsung. The injunction levied against them may prove to have a much more severe impact in the long run. While only a handful of Samsung's products are facing bans at the moment, if more of its products are encompassed in the injunction it could cost them many times more than the +$1 billion verdict. Also, lowered investor confidence as a result of the ruling sent Samsung shares plummeting to a four year low.
On the plus side, consumers may turn out as winners in the end. Analysts and legal experts believe vendors will be forced to innovate to avoid Apple patent lawsuits. “Companies will need to be much more careful about adopting Apple's design language,” Says Van Lindberg, an IP and Open source attorney. “Other companies will be forced to adopt new and less Apple-like designs.”
Garnter analyst Michael Gartenberg concurs. “Apple patents being upheld will force industry toward innovation and differentiation. That's not a bad thing.”
A scanned copy of the Jury verdict form used in the ruling can be viewed here.
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