With the two smartphone giants pitted against each other, it’s no wonder everyone is keeping their eyes people on the Samsung vs Apple patent suit. Which one of them are you rooting for?
The war between the two companies begun back in 2011, with the iPhone maker hitting Samsung with various patent infringement suits. In July 2012 the companies had opened over 50 lawsuits world wide against each other and were both taking the hit in the form of billions of dollars in damages. A year later Apple was receiving a favorable ruling in the USA, while Samsung was winning in South Korea, Japan and the UK.
Fast forward to 2015, when Samsung vs Apple is still ongoing, making the headlines and wasting the companies’ money. The newest development is Samsung’s decision to request the Supreme Court of the United States to rehear their appeal. A San Jose federal jury found Samsung guilty of violating the iPhone’s patents back in 2012.
According to the ruling from 2012, Samsung violated Apple’s patents in twenty three products. As a consequence, Samsung has to pay $548 million, well under the $1 billion Apple originally requested.
While Samsung’s appeal has already been denied twice now, they’re running out of options. So they decided to take it up with the Supreme Court and argue before them. Other big names are expected to show up in the Samsung vs Apple epic battle.
So far, Samsung has benefited from support from Hewlett Packard, Google, Dell, eBay and Facebook, all backing up the South Korean phone manufacturer’s efforts.
On August 19, Samsung said they intend to ask SCOTUS to take over the case, after a couple of years of unsuccessful tactics, appeals and patent lawsuits.
We can understand Apple is only trying to protect its intellectual property, but how much is too much? The ongoing Samsung vs Apple lawsuit speaks volumes about the two giants’ determination to dispute each and every patent suit.
An overall view on the two smartphone manufacturers’ business betrays their noble intentions. The effects of the fifty open lawsuits translate into expensive law and courtroom tactics that have ended up far away from the original intent of the first suit.
Will the Samsung vs Apple patent war that seems eternal ever end? Neither of the two parties seem bent on finding an amicable solution for the battle, especially when each loss from one of them translates into the other’s win.
