It looks like Samsung is plotting revenge. The Korean tech firm will be adding the iPhone 5 in an existing patent dispute against Apple, after losing the biggest tech trial ever.
According to Reuters, the Korean firm will be adding the new iPhone to its list of Apple iDevices that it claims infringes its patents. Samsung previously decided it would go after the iPhone 5 even before Apple officially unveiled the device.
Speaking to CNET, Samsung said previously, “Based on information currently available, Samsung expects that the iPhone 5 will infringe the asserted Samsung patents-in-suit in the same way as the other accused iPhone models. Samsung plans to file a motion to amend its infringement contentions to address the iPhone 5 as soon as it has had a reasonable opportunity to analyse the device.”
A US Jury awarded Apple over $1 billion in damages, after it found Samsung guilty of violating the Cupertino firm’s patents. Not a single counter claim by Samsung was approved. In addition to the $1 billion awarded to Apple, it is seeking an additional $700 million in damages. Since the two are embroiled in other legal battles around the world, expect more courtroom drama in the future.
Aside from the damages awarded, Apple is likely to enforce an injunction banning the sale of Samsung devices in the US. This could result in the Korean firm being forced to redesign its Galaxy range mentioned in the trial as well as others that share similar features. This includes the highly successful Galaxy S3.
We can’t blame Samsung for seeking revenge, since the trial was pretty one-sided. We do hope, however, that companies would stop resorting to filing lawsuits against its rivals. The result is ditching features that work with features that clearly do not.
An example is the Apple Maps app mess. Apple replaced an efficient Google Maps with its Maps app, which clearly doesn’t work.
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