Battle Between Apple and Samsung Continues

On Tuesday, June 4th the International Trade Commission (ITC) gave Samsung a win in its ongoing, multi-continent patent infringement battle with Apple, when it banned Apple from importing or selling AT&T versions of the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. Apple was also banned from importing or selling the first and second generations of its wildly popular iPad. The ITC concluded that these older models infringed upon Samsung’s patents.

The ban does not affect Apple’s newest products.

The ruling concludes the ITC’s investigation into the matter that was started by the ITC on August 1, 2011. And though the ITC’s decision stated that the “determination is final, and the investigation is terminated,” a spokesperson for Apple said that the company plans to exercise its right to appeal the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Apple also hopes that President Obama will veto the decision during his sixty day review.

The ruling comes as a victory for Samsung who suffered a major blow at the hands of its tech rival. In August 2012 a federal jury in California found Apple to have suffered over a billion dollars in damages for willfully violating Apple’s patents in developing some of its next generation phones and tablets. The two companies have been engaged in legal battles worldwide. A court in South Korea found that both companies were liable for infringing on each other; and while at least four European courts have dismissed Samsung’s patent infringement suits against Apple.

If you or someone you know owns a patent that you believe has been infringed, contact the attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211.