After just three days, the jury in the Apple v. Samsung patent-infringement trial tells the judge it has reached a decision. The jury had to come to a unanimous verdict. Jurors were given a 109-page document with instructions about the case. The jury has ruled that Samsung Violated Apple Patents. Apple sued Samsung last year for copying the essential features of its iPad and iPhone. Today's verdict tells us that patents do in fact matter. It's certainly a great day for innovators: Congratulations Apple! August 25:
Report Updated with Key Patent Links and more
A 2007 Flashback
When Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone back in 2007 he stated the following: "We've been pushing the state of the art in every facet of this design. We've got the multi-touch screen, miniaturization, OS X in a mobile device, precision enclosures, three advanced sensors, desktop class applications, and widescreen video iPod. We filed for over 200 patents for all of the inventions in iPhone and we intend to protect them!"
In our October 2011 report titled "Apple's "Slide to Unlock" Patent Stirs Up a Hornet's Nest in Taiwan," we presented the video where Steve Jobs points out the differences between the smartphones of old and the new iPhone; a tactic that was used in the Apple vs. Samsung trial.
Well before the trial ever began, Patently Apple was recognized as being on record pounding the table with the very same argument that was used at trial:
"Today, Apple is embroiled in a series of lawsuits against Samsung, HTC and others over many aspects of the iPhone, iPad and iOS features. In 2007, Samsung, HTC, Google and all others in the industry didn't have a smartphone with the likes of Apple's iPhone features. They didn't have the solutions that Apple eloquently brought to market to make a smartphone truly smart. Apple carefully and meticulously crafted a full end-to-end smartphone solution. So when the copycat's and their followers whine in public and on blogs that Apple should learn to compete instead of initiate litigation – I bowl over with laughter."
Some of the Trial Patents Originally Covered by Patently Apple
Trial Patent 7,469,381 was reported on by Patently Apple on March 06, 2012 under the title "Android OEM's won't like Apple's Latest iOS Patent Win." That was sure the right call at the right time.
Trial Patent 7,864,163 was reported on by Patently Apple on January 04, 2011 under the title "Apple Granted a Major Multi-Touch Patent Relating to E-Docs."
Trial Patent D618,677 was reported on by Patently Apple on June 29, 2010 under the title "Apple Granted Patents for iPhone, Apple TV, Cooling System, More."
More Information, More Trials
The bottom line is that the jury has awarded Apple $1.051 billion in damages. The jury further found that in some cases, the infringement and trade dress dilution was found to be willful. That could lead Judge Lucy Koh to raise the amount of damages awarded to Apple. Willful Infringement could lead to triple damages in some cases. In time we'll know if that pans out.
The other trial between these two tech giants played out in Korea today with a much different verdict. In that case, both sides took a hit. Similar patent cases between Apple and Samsung are still to be heard in Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Tim Cook's Response to the Verdict
"Today was an important day for Apple and for innovators everywhere.
Many of you have been closely following the trial against Samsung in San Jose for the past few weeks. We chose legal action very reluctantly and only after repeatedly asking Samsung to stop copying our work. For us this lawsuit has always been about something much more important than patents or money. It’s about values. We value originality and innovation and pour our lives into making the best products on earth. And we do this to delight our customers, not for competitors to flagrantly copy.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the jury who invested their time in listening to our story. We were thrilled to finally have the opportunity to tell it. The mountain of evidence presented during the trial showed that Samsung’s copying went far deeper than we knew.
The jury has now spoken. We applaud them for finding Samsung’s behavior willful and for sending a loud and clear message that stealing isn’t right.
I am very proud of the work that each of you do.
Today, values have won and I hope the whole world listens."
The addition of "Tim Cook's Response" is an update to our report: August 25, 2012 8:30 AM MST Source. For those wishing to review the Jury's Verdict Form, click here.
