DOJ urges Supreme Court to return Apple vs. Samsung patent case to lower court
The Justice Department on Wednesday filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Apple's appellate court win over Samsung in a nearly five-year-old patent dispute, a decision that would inevitably lead to a new round of litigation.
According to Reuters, the filing brings into question Samsung's assertions that damages paid to redress found-infringed patents should be based on components rather than whole handset sales. It is unclear whether Samsung presented enough evidence to support its claims, the DOJ says, and thus the case should be returned to a lower court for further deliberation.
During the numerous Apple v. Samsung jury trial sessions, and most recently appeals court proceedings, Samsung argued only individual phone components should be considered when calculating damages if the successfully leveraged design patent only applies to said components. When Samsung petitioned the Supreme Court in December, it said electronic devices "contain countless other features that give them remarkable functionality wholly unrelated to their design."
Apple in its infringement claims said Samsung should pay up based on product sales.
The Supreme Court agreed to investigate Samsung's petition in March.
For its part, Apple in February filed in opposition of Samsung's request, saying the California case is "legally unexceptional."
Apple won an initial $1.08 billion in damages as part of its first California patent infringement suit against Samsung in 2012. A subsequent partial retrial, a successful CAFC appeal and intervening court revisions brought that figure down to $548 million. Samsung agreed to pay the sum in December under the condition that it be reimbursed if judgment was reversed, modified or otherwise changed in the Korean company's favor.
According to Reuters, the filing brings into question Samsung's assertions that damages paid to redress found-infringed patents should be based on components rather than whole handset sales. It is unclear whether Samsung presented enough evidence to support its claims, the DOJ says, and thus the case should be returned to a lower court for further deliberation.
During the numerous Apple v. Samsung jury trial sessions, and most recently appeals court proceedings, Samsung argued only individual phone components should be considered when calculating damages if the successfully leveraged design patent only applies to said components. When Samsung petitioned the Supreme Court in December, it said electronic devices "contain countless other features that give them remarkable functionality wholly unrelated to their design."
Apple in its infringement claims said Samsung should pay up based on product sales.
The Supreme Court agreed to investigate Samsung's petition in March.
For its part, Apple in February filed in opposition of Samsung's request, saying the California case is "legally unexceptional."
Apple won an initial $1.08 billion in damages as part of its first California patent infringement suit against Samsung in 2012. A subsequent partial retrial, a successful CAFC appeal and intervening court revisions brought that figure down to $548 million. Samsung agreed to pay the sum in December under the condition that it be reimbursed if judgment was reversed, modified or otherwise changed in the Korean company's favor.
Comments
Ugh.
I can think of no valid reason why they would have any interest in this case.
No, I think this is either a play to make Apple rethink their stance on encryption or Samsung gladhanding the DoJ in some way.
I hope this crap is over when we get a new president and that this isn't the work of career Justice members.
If we have any legal eagles here, can you tell me how common it is for Justice to make a filing like this? It seems a little untoward.
maybe Apple needs to work on its PR some more. Google went to meetings at the Whitehouse >400 times, and Apple is not playing that game.
What at should they do? I wouldn't blame them if they relocated lock stock and barrel to Ireland or something. The US seems to resent the crap out of them. Or, maybe Apple needs to bribe people, because, all the other companies do. It's more corrupt here than I thought.
meanwhile, Disney is having a problem in China. It seems there are fake theme parks that copy Disney and they have the nerve to use the original Disney characters like Snow White and Mickey Mouse. I wonder if that wasn't in China, but here in the US instead if our Justice Dept would insist Disney has no rights to the characters? That IS what I wonder, after Justice says Apple would be 'stifling innovation' by defending their patents.
The USA has become so corrupted by money influences I hardly recognize it any more.
Sorry Sammy, if your other components would have sold your phones, why'd you blatantly copy the iPhone?