Apple wins key patent case against SamsungAugust 10, 2013 - 11:35 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Apple has won a key patent case against rival Samsung at the U.S. International Trade Commission, BBC News reports. The ITC upheld a 2011 decision which found that Samsung had infringed Apple patents in the production of mobile phones, media players and tablets. The ITC has ordered that Samsung devices affected by the ruling are banned from the U.S. But that ban is on hold while U.S. President Barack Obama reviews the decision. The President has 60 days to assess the ITC's findings, although analysts say he is unlikely to overturn the commission's decision. "We are disappointed that the ITC has issued an exclusion order based on two of Apple's patents," Samsung said in a statement. "The proper focus for the smartphone industry is not a global war in the courts, but fair competition in the marketplace." Apple hailed the decision, placing it in the context of the tech giants' global patent battles. "With today's decision, the ITC has joined courts around the world in Japan, Korea, Germany, Netherlands and California by standing up for innovation and rejecting Samsung's blatant copying of Apple's products," said the company. The ruling applies to two patents. The first is the so-called "Steve Jobs patent", named after the company's founder, which involves touch-screen technology. The other patent is related to the audio socket on devices. Four other patent infringements asserted by Apple were turned down by the ITC. Apple and Samsung have been fighting patent battles for years and across 10 countries. The fight has escalated after Samsung overtook Apple last year to become the global leader in smartphone sales. In Washington on Friday, a federal appeals judge heard testimony in a separate patent case between the two companies relating to a decision last year, in which Samsung was found to owe Apple $1bn for infringing on patents. That penalty was later struck to $450m, but Apple appealed against the ruling. A verdict in that case has not yet been issued. Separately, last weekend President Obama issued the first presidential veto in 26 years relating to a ITC decision. That veto overturned a ban on older models of Apple's iPhones and iPads because of its "effect on competitive conditions in the U.S. economy". Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | U.S. warns Georgia not to side with Moscow against the west Georgia has been warned by the U.S. not to become an adversary of the west by falling back in line with Moscow. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. |