For quite a while, cell phone giants Apple and Samsung have battled in the courtroom over patent rights. Now the verdict is in.
According to this verdict, Samsung infringed on two Apple patents. Apple was awarded almost $120 million. This jury also ruled Apple had violated a Samsung patent. However, Apple’s violation was declared unwillful and Samsung was awarded only $158,000. I say only because, hey, compared to 120 million, this is pocket change. Two of the patents in question were the 647 quick links patent and the 721 slide-to-unlock patent. The jury, led by an IBM executive, took 3 days to deliberate. Despite Apple seeking over two billion dollars in damage, Apple was satisfied with the ruling. They told the media, ?We are grateful to the jury and the court for their service. Today?s ruling reinforces what courts around the world have already found: That Samsung willfully stole our ideas and copied our products.”
Something tells me this isn’t over. Something tells me Samsung is going to appeal this ruling. In fact, this is shaping up to be one of the biggest rivalries in corporate American history. This ranks up there with Pepsi vs Coke, McDonald’s vs. Burger King, or General Motors vs Ford.? What do you think the next chapter of this saga will be?