Tokyo court: Samsung didn't infringe Apple patent

CNET

(CBS/AP) Apple's battle at home may be coming to a close, but overseas the computer giant faces tough opposition.

A Tokyo court on Friday dismissed Apple Inc.'s claim that Samsung had infringed on its patent - the latest ruling in the global legal battle between the two technology titans over smartphones.

The Japanese court case addressed only the synchronizing technology that allows media players to share data with personal computers and was not comparable in scope to the much larger victory that Apple won in the U.S. last week.

Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea, the world's largest maker of phones, welcomed the Tokyo District Court ruling that its technology that allows media players and personal computers to share music files and other content did not infringe on Apple patents as confirming "our long-held position."

"We will continue to offer highly innovative products to consumers, and continue our contributions toward the mobile industry's development," the company said in a statement.

The Apple lawyer present at the courthouse declined comment, and the company said later it had no comment, including whether it intended to appeal.

In a session lasting just a few minutes, Judge Tamotsu Shoji said he did not think Samsung products fell into the realm of Apple technology and dismissed the lawsuit, filed by Apple in August last year.

Apple, the Cupertino, California-based maker of the hit iPhone and iPad, is embroiled in similar legal tussles around the world over whether Samsung smartphones, which rely on Google Inc.'s Android technology, illegally used Apple designs, ideas or technology.

In one such case, a jury in California ruled last week that Samsung products illegally used such Apple creations as the "bounce-back" feature when a user scrolls to an end image, and the ability to zoom text with a tap of a finger.

The jury awarded Apple $1 billion in damages, and a judge is now evaluating Apple's request to have eight Samsung products pulled from shelves and banned from the U.S. market, including popular Galaxy model smartphones. Samsung's latest hit, Galaxy S3, was not part of the U.S. ruling.

Friday's ruling was the first held in Japan in the Samsung-Apple global court battle, but other technology is being contested by the two companies in separate legal cases in Japan. Friday's case also did not involve a request to have Samsung products banned.

Apple products are extremely popular among Japanese consumers, but major Japanese carriers such as NTT DoCoMo sell Samsung smartphones as well. Japanese electronics maker Sony Corp. also makes smartphones similar to Samsung's, using Android technology.

Samsung has sold more than 50 million Galaxy S and Galaxy S2 smartphones around the world. The legal battle also involves Samsung's Tab device, which Apple claims infringes on patents related to the iPad tablet.

[djseavy]

I would have to agree; the jury has guaranteed that the competition will evaporate if things play out the way the ruling went, and the price of smart phones will triple. I can not believe our justice system allows for 12 ordinary people to make a decision about a case in which it has taken skilled attorneys a considerable amout of time to put together. It takes years to become a decent patent attorney, yet we have John Q Public making such lofty decisions. And yes - Apple is very dirty in its dealings. What happened here is a joke on one hand, and a disaster in the making on the other.

[hypnotoad72]

Agreed

[dontforget911]

It'll be funny if international countries rule Apple infringes on Samsung patents to require Apple to pay Samsung $1 billion. Apple plays just as dirty as their competitors. Their lawsuit is a joke along with the jurors. The win only allows Apple to monopolize the smart phone business. The jurors have no idea what they have done to the consumers.

[hypnotoad72]

But competition is a good thing and Steve Jobs is a person every American should be like... no?

Oh... HELL NO... the man was a uncivilized jerk... and a corporate welfare leech... amongst every other form of leech...



http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/214268/20110915/top-10-android-features-ios-5-impersonated-apple-iphone-5-ipad-ipad-2-iphone-3gs-iphone-4-ipod-touch.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW0DUg63lqU

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/04/apple-dc-lobbying-efforts-get-fierce_n_818874.html

http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/134422/steve-jobs-vowed-to-destroy-google-android-called-it-a-stolen-product/120

The same company patented the digital version of a slide lock for crying out loud. Apple, in patenting the work someone else created and then made an analogue of, is who is stealing. Sorry.

http://www.styleite.com/media/steve-jobs-photo-shoots/

http://www.cultofmac.com/2613/steve-jobs-still-parking-in-handicapped-spaces-the-pictures/

http://thednetworks.com/2011/10/06/steve-was-employee-zero-used-to-park-his-mercedes-in-handicapped-parking-and-some-more-less-know-facts-about-steve-jobs/

I could cite a zillion sources but most people know the man was an insecure, childish diva who exploited everyone he could. Look up the issues at Foxconn for more... but, hey, Foxconn helped him go from a 40% profit margin to 60% or more. Why should he care?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/04/apple-dc-lobbying-efforts-get-fierce_n_818874.html
(and given the corporate welfare they take, since our country can't afford anything anymore, but before I digress...)

He's no hero.

To anybody.

He was just another leech, and a massively whiny one at that.