Apple’s Request For Samsung Phone Ban Denied

Both Apple and Samsung have been duking it out in court for a few years now with no end in sight. CEOs of both companies recently sat down for a round of mediation talks but that did not lead anywhere. Earlier today Samsung scored a minor win when Judge Lucy Koh denied a renewed request from Apple to ban 23 Samsung smartphones and tablets that were found to be infringing on its patents. But its a much bigger win for Apple as Judge Koh has upheld the $290 million additional damages awarded last November, thus upping total payable damages to $930 million.

Samsung had contended that it only owed Apple $52 million on top of the $640 million that had been awarded back in 2012. Koh found no reason to not uphold the $290 million award from November 2013, which when added to the original amount comes close to the $1.05 billion in damages Apple had initially seeked from Samsung for infringing on its patents.

Apple’s request for a permanent ban was denied because it “has not established that it is entitled to the permanent injunction it seeks.” That doesn’t mean Cupertino has no legal recourse available to it anymore. Both companies have the right to appeal any part of this final judgement, with Samsung even having the right to appeal the “underlying liability issues.” This is also not the end of Apple and Samsung’s court battles, both companies come face to face yet again later this month as the issue of another set of devices, that allegedly infringe on Apple’s patents, still remains.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Apple
Tags: Samsung