The decade-long Apple v. Samsung patent-infringement trial is nearing its end. A jury is expected to announce Monday whether the premier Android-maker owes Apple $1 billion for copying the iPhone’s design.
In 2007, before the release of the very first iPhone, Apple requested a number of design patents on the shape of its upcoming smartphone. The iPhone-maker filed a lawsuit in 2011 that the Samsung Galaxy S 4G and other devices infringed on its patents. Apple v. Samsung has been going ever since.
A jury in 2012 ruled that Samsung infringed on its rival’s patents and awarded Apple $1.05 billion. But the Supreme Court decided in 2016 that figure was too high. A fresh jury spent last week hearing arguments from both companies, and will come up with a new amount for damages.
Apple v Samsung: awarding damages
To be clear, Samsung couldn’t argue in this case that it didn’t infringe on Apple’s patents. That was decided back in 2012. All the Korean company could do was try to convince the jury that the patents aren’t very important, and therefore it should pay just $28 million.
Apple, on the other hand, argued that its three design patents and two utility patents are fundamental. It wants as much of the $1 billion original damages award as it can get.
