News that the Cupertino-based company is throwing a tantrum after a court ordered Apple to share HTC secrets with its arch nemesis Samsung Electronics Co. is making waves on the Internet.
The reports suggest that in addition to an official apology to the South Korean company, Apple Inc. was also ordered to divulge conditions on the patent related settlement Apple recently closed with HTC.
Apple and the Taiwanese company HTC Corp, reached a settlement a few weeks ago in a patent infringement lawsuit, in which Apple accused the latter of design infringement on HTC Android handset designs.
According to EE Times, HTC agreed to pay Apple $280 million per year. Analysts say the amount approximates to $6-$8 per Android piece HTC sells. Apple announced that the case has been dismissed as a result and the two parties have reached a 10-year-licencse agreement.
Prior to that a judge allowed Apple to include the Galaxy SIII to the patent infringement suit. The South Korean company did not lag behind in procuring permission to add the iPhone 5 to its patent claims against the Cupertino company as well.
California court judge, Paul S. Grewal said, "Given the early stage of this litigation and the reasoning of this order, the court notes that Apple should think twice before opposing similar amendments reflecting other newly-released products -- e.g. the iPad 4 and iPad mini -- that Samsung may propose in the near future," as reported by Infoworld.
Apple's request to add Samsung's Galaxy SIII, Note 10.1 and Android Jelly Bean OS to the list of devices in the patent infringement case against the South Korean company.
According to PC Magazine, Grewal approved of the request on Thursday. In his decision he wrote, "Samsung's amendment does not seek to add new claims or theories of infringement, but merely adds another device that has the same accused functionality as the previous versions of the iPhone...As a result, Apple's analysis in defending against Samsung's contentions should remain largely the same," as reported by the magazine.
Over the summer Samsung Electronics Co. was hit with a $1.05 billion penalty in the patent infringement lawsuit. Now after its major victory, Apple is seeking an injunction on the Samsung products in question in the U.S. market.
Here are the eight products that Apple wants off the market: Galaxy S 4G, Galaxy S2 AT&T, Galaxy S2 Galaxy S2 T-Mobile, Galaxy S2 Epic 4G, Galaxy S Showcase, Droid Charge and Galaxy Prevail, as reported by USA Today.
Samsung is looking to appeal the jury's verdict. The court has already reversed an injunction placed on Galaxy Nexus.
In August, a jury of nine at a San Jose court ruled that Samsung Electronics Co. "willfully infringed" on a number of Apple's patent devices, granting them $1.05 billion, Samsung looks to appeal the decision, while Apples seeks an injunction of Samsung devices in the U.S. market.
According to CNET News, Samsung is confident that the company will be absolved from paying the $1.05 billion to Apple Inc.
Apple filed suit against a $2.5 billion suit against Samsung in April of 2011. The jury decided that Apple had valid claims to some of the design infringement, however decided against over other claims thus granting them less than half of what the company looked to procure.
Never the less the win is a big deal for the company. Judge Lucy Koh will make on ruling on whether Samsung's products that have been accused of infringement will be removed from U.S. markets.
Earlier the same day of August 24, Samsung and Apple tied in an infringement-related litigation in South Korea. Bans were placed on both companies. However the bans were limited to products older than three years and only applied to the South Korean market.
The two rivals decided not to reach a settlement, despite the urging of the judge. Instead they left it up to the jurors. However, Samsung now reveals that it was open to a settlement, but Apple was not in favor of the idea.
Howard Mintz of mercurynews.com predicted the verdict correctly when he said the jury would likely be in favor of Apple because its " simpler arguments, coupled with the mystique of its products, may give it an advantage, but much depends upon the amount of credibility the jury assigns to Samsung's counter-arguments."
Jurors rejected all of Samsung's counter claims.
Since 2011, the two tech moguls have engaged in quite a tussle over design infringement, Apple has repeatedly accused Samsung (not without merit) of imitating its designs for its various products. While, one cannot deny Samsung's products bears a definite resemblance to the corresponding Apple products, Apple might have taken the issue a little too far by suing the company for $2.5 Billion. In turn, Samsung is counter suing Apple for approximately $400 million for damages to reputation and $22 million in royalties.
