Samsung to Pay Apple $548 Million Settlement in Five-Year Old Patent Trial

Friday December 4, 2015 5:32 AM PST by Mitchel Broussard
Just under five years after the beginning of the patent dispute between tech giants Apple and Samsung, the companies yesterday agreed to a settlement of $548 million to be paid by Samsung, as ordered by the San Jose federal court hosting the trial (via FOSS Patents). Samsung is said to now be waiting for Apple's official invoice of the settlement, and if it arrives by the end of day on December 4, it has promised to send the $548 million in full to Apple by December 14.

applevsamsung
Samsung found a slight loophole in its agreement to pay the Cupertino company, however, retaining the right to continue appealing the court system and even the ability to "reclaim or obtain reimbursement of any judgment amounts paid" by the company. So, if the court does agree to one of Samsung's appeals in the future, Apple could see some -- or all -- of the $548 million returned back to its rival.
"Samsung continues to reserve all rights to obtain reimbursement from Apple and/or payment by Apple of all amounts required to be paid as taxes. [...] Samsung further reserves all rights to reclaim or obtain reimbursement of any judgment amounts paid by Samsung to any entity in the event the partial judgment is reversed, modified, vacated or set aside on appeal or otherwise, including as a result of any proceedings before the USPTO addressing the patents at issue or as a result of any petition for writ of certiorari filed with the Supreme Court."
In its own part of the filing that made its way through the court system on Thursday, Apple noted that it "disputes Samsung's asserted rights to reimbursement." Earlier in August, Samsung announced plans to try and appeal the patent trial all the way to the United States Supreme Court, following a series of appeals it lost in the intervening years since the legal battle began in 2011.

Tag: Samsung
75 comments


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Jsameds
41 months ago
Too little too late. They've already made 50x this figure in profit from the stolen patents. This is Samsung's Mobile Division's business model.
Rating: 16 Votes
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Kaibelf
41 months ago

Apple fan boys are going to rejoice!


So should anyone who thinks you should pay for things you take, and who think that patents and contracts matter. And don't forget those who believe you compensate people for their work.
Rating: 11 Votes
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Waxhead138
41 months ago

Too little too late. They've already made 50x this figure in profit from the stolen patents. This is Samsung's Mobile Division's business model.


From things I read in the past....not just the mobile division. I don't have the link, but I remember reading a similar story about a lawsuit involving them and Pioneer over home theater receivers. Steal, drag out in court forever, etc.

It's a company business model / tactic seemingly.
Rating: 10 Votes
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2457282
41 months ago
I hope this really is the end. Hopefully Samsung stops the appeals and tries to kiss and make up. They have declining sales and have replaced folks to try to get the company back on track. Clue one, don't piss off your number one customer.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Waxhead138
41 months ago

Please don’t go there. All tech companies have done this kind of thing. Including………..


True, but some are much more blatant about it than others. Subtlety is one thing, being overt is just tempting fate.
By overt I mean not just copying the actual tech...but packaging materials and appearance as well.
Rating: 4 Votes
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co.ag.2005
41 months ago

From things I read in the past....not just the mobile division. I don't have the link, but I remember reading a similar story about a lawsuit involving them and Pioneer over home theater receivers. Steal, drag out in court forever, etc.

It's a company business model / tactic seemingly.


same thing with a vacuum cleaner and Dyson
http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/10/dyson-sues-samsung-vacuum-design-rip-off/
Rating: 3 Votes
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mKizzo
41 months ago
When is apple going to open up as a bank? Could start funding whole governments with the amount of cash they have on hand.
Rating: 3 Votes
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H2SO4
41 months ago

Too little too late. They've already made 50x this figure in profit from the stolen patents. This is Samsung's Mobile Division's business model.

Please don’t go there. All tech companies have done this kind of thing. Including………..
Rating: 2 Votes
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jpgr15
41 months ago

That joke is old, and it has some problems. 1. There aren't that many pennies. 2. Trying to hoard $548 million in pennies would get you into deep legal trouble. 3. 54 billion pennies are not legal tender that needs to be accepted for payment of a debt.


K
Rating: 2 Votes
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jpgr15
41 months ago

I hope this really is the end.


Oh no. It doesn't end here. Next headline: "Samsung pays all 548 million in pennies".
Rating: 2 Votes
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