The Patent Wars: Samsung Strikes Back
In the most recent iteration of the Patent Wars, the San Jose District Court ruled Apple Inc. would not be able to add Samsung Groups most recent smart phone, the Galaxy S4, to its patent infringement case. The Court ruled the addition of the Galaxy S4 would unfairly prejudice Samsung, as preparing witnesses to talk about an additional product at trail was “not an insubstantial task”, and the process would be a drain on the courts resources.
In an article for the Manzella Report entitled The Impact of the Apple-Samsung Patent Wars, it was pointed out that the focus in many patent cases “revolves primarily around the infringement of technology patents used in both smart phones and tablet devices.”
The Court stated the Apple v. Samsung cases
consume [a] considerable amounts of the court’s time and energy . . . t[aking] time away from other parties who also require and are entitled to the court’s attention
Though Apple argued dismissing the Galaxy S4 from the present case would result in additional infringement cases further draining the Courts resources, the Court was not persuaded. The Court reasoned that because other products had already been dismissed from the case further litigation was inevitable, regardless of their decision on the galaxy S4.
Samsung Group won several other minor victories during the litigation process:
- Apple was ordered to release all of its relevant source code for the iOS and OSX operating systems
The Patent War between Samsung and Apple involves the rights to certain technologies seen in Smartphones and Tablet devices to Samsung, to allow Samsung better understanding as to the communication between the hardware and software of the technology in question.
- Apple was ordered to release documents relevant to patent defenses from previous cases In the Matter of Certain Electronic Devices, Including Mobile Phones, Portable Music Players and Computers (the “Nokia Investigation”) and In the Matter of Certain Mobile Telephones and Wireless Communication Devices Featuring Digital Cameras, and Components Thereof (the “Kodak Investigation”).
- Apple was ordered to release documents pertaining to VirnetX, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc., to the extent which Samsung had deemed relevant.
Though this case is only one battle in the scope of an enormous Patent War, Android users can at least breathe a quick sigh of relief after Samsung’s hard fought victory.
