Samsung sentenced to pay $ 1.000 billion to Apple in patent case

In San José, California, a jury has found Samsung guilty of plagiarism of six patents that Apple uses in its iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad devices and, therefore, Samsung will have to compensate Apple with 1.000 million dollars, One 800 millones de euros. Thus ends one of the lawsuits that the two companies are having around the globe in what is now known as the Patent War.

The jury found in favor of Apple this Friday after three days of deliberations after having listened to 700 questions of a truly technical nature in this long process. The Californian company showed its satisfaction with the decision and wanted to color it with a moral character by pointing out that it is necessary for people to know that stealing is not right.

All the patents violated they have to do with him rebound effect When reaching the end of a list, the pinch touch gesture to enlarge screens and the physical aspect of smartphones as iPhone copy, Among others.

Samsung has announced that it will appeal and that if the verdict is not reversed it will take the case to a higher court.

The economic consequences of this are not important for Samsung, since, although it seems a large amount, 1.000 billion euros is not so much for them, but the business consequences they can be terrible and decisive. Indeed, we may be facing a turn in the world market for tablets and smartphones, which the two companies covered 50%.

Things weren't going so well for Apple lately. Last year Samsung sold more smartphones in the US than Apple. In the world, for every iPhone that is sold, three Android phones are sold. And is that Android and Google could be the main victims of all this. Apple will see to it that certain Samsung devices are withdrawn from the market in the US in the first instance but then, using this verdict as usual, it can go for other companies that have developed very similar products to those of Samsung and derivatively to those of Apple.

Steve Jobs considered that Android was pure plagiarism and, from what we see, what Apple is looking for with these lawsuits is not compensation but dominance of the tablet and smartphone market.

Manufacturers will have to use their imagination to the fullest to develop solutions for mobile devices that are not reminiscent of Apple. This could be good for the consumer if it comes to fruition, but it can also mean less variety in the offer of tablets and smartphones.

In Seoul a few hours earlier a court had convicted both companies of plagiarism after accusatory lawsuits. The court said that the two companies were copying each other and that they will have to pay compensation, yes, much less. In addition, Samsung will have to recall 10 products, including the Galaxy SII and Apple the iPhone 4.