Just when you thought the Apple vs. Samsung rivalry had finally cooled off, the companies announce a second round of business litigation related to patent disputes. A year and a half ago, jurors sided with California-based Apple in a key patent dispute that determined that Samsung had infringed upon several design patents for iPhone and iPad. Apple was awarded $1 billion in damages in that corporate litigation suit, but it appears that more business litigation is on the way.
The story began in 2011, when Apple filed its first legal action against Samsung, alleging that the company had infringed upon both patents and trademarks. Both companies have since spent at least a billion dollars each in the legal dispute. Industry leaders say that the most recent suit is different from the one that has already been decided, largely because the disputed technology is currently in use by Apple and Samsung customers.
The decision handed down in the first lawsuit actually has led to about 50 other legal actions, including additional claims in international venues and new lawsuits between the companies. This second major case finds Apple attempting to achieve the same ends as it did in the past — the tech giant is trying to put a stop to the sales of Samsung Galaxy items. Experts in the field say that this is a notable case because both companies are unwilling to compromise and seek licensing deals instead of pursuing patent infringement litigation.
Business owners who believe they have been victims of patent infringement may be eligible for financial compensation and other business litigation benefits. A business attorney in California may help protect against deceptive trade practices and unfair competition, among other civil matters. Business litigation may lead to positive results for those who have suffered breach of contract or other corporate wrongs.
Source: Bloomberg Businesweek, “Apple vs. Samsung, the Sequel” Dimitra Kessenides, Mar. 31, 2014
