Apple fails to bar Samsung phones

Apple has failed in an attempt to permanently bar sales of certain Samsung phones in the US that were found to infringe some of its key patents.

In a ruling issued at the US District Court for the Northern District of California yesterday (August 27), Judge Lucy Koh said Apple had failed to prove it suffered “irreparable harm” as a direct result of Samsung’s infringement.

The decision relates to a judgement in May this year when California-based Apple successfully claimed Samsung infringed two of its patents, including technology surrounding the “slide to unlock” and auto-correct features.

South Korea-based Samsung was ordered to pay $119.6 million in damages despite Apple initially claiming it was due $2 billion.

Apple was hoping to secure a sales ban on Samsung devices, including the Galaxy Nexus smartphone.

But Judge Koh, the same judge who ruled against Samsung in the initial trial, claimed Apple had not “satisfied its burden” of demonstrating irreparable harm and failed to link that harm to Samsung’s exploitation of any of the infringed patents.

When contacted by WIPR, an Apple spokesman declined to comment on the ruling.

Samsung said it welcomed the decision.

"We remain committed to providing US consumers with a wide choice of innovative products," it added.

Earlier this month, the two smartphone companies agreed to settle their disputes outside the US.

Apple landed the first blow in the companies’ patent war in August 2012 after the same California court said Samsung infringed its patents in 14 products.

Initially, Samsung was ordered to pay $1.05 billion, but judge Koh vacated $450 million from the figure after ruling that the jury had not adequately calculated a portion of the damages.

After a revision, Samsung was ordered to pay $290 million, taking total damages past $900 million.

Overall, Samsung has been ordered to pay its rival in excess of $1 billion but has said it will appeal against both decisions.