Overview
Samsung Vs. Apple refers to a series of lawsuits between the electronics companies Apple Inc. and Samsung regarding various designs for smartphones and tablet computers.
Background
On January 5th, 2007, Apple, Inc. filed several design patents for the shape of the iPhone four days before its market release. In June, the company submitted a large graphical user interface patent containing 193 iPhone screen shots. On April 15th, 2011, Apple filed a 38-page federal complaint against Samsung Electronics alleging that several of Samsung’s Android smartphones and tablets infringed on Apple’s intellectual property.[2]
Notable Developments
Counter-Suit
On April 22nd, 2011, Samsung counter-sued in Germany, Japan and South Korea claiming that Apple infringed on patents for mobile-communication. In June, Samsung filed additional suits against Apple in the British High Court of Justice, the United States Distrcit Court for the District of Delaware and the United States International Trade Commission.
Verdicts
On September 9th, 2011, a German court ruled that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 infringed on Apple’s intellectual property, resulting in a sales ban on the tablet device.
In August 2012, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that Apple infringed two of Samsung’s patents and that Samsung infringed one of Apple’s. That same month, The Tokyo District Court determined that Samsung had no violated. On November 21st, 2013, a United States jury awarded Apple $290 million in damages.