Apple vs. Samsung Lawsuit to Drag Into Eighth Year With Retrial Scheduled Next May

The never-ending legal battle between Apple and Samsung over the design of the iPhone will likely stretch into its eighth year of proceedings.

apple v samsung 2011

Apple's original complaint accused Samsung of copying the iPhone's design

Lucy Koh, the judge who has been presiding over the case since it began in April 2011, has scheduled a five-day retrial between May 14 and May 18 of next year, according to court documents filed electronically on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, Koh ordered that a new trial is required to determine whether Apple's $399 million award for Samsung's design patent infringement should stand or whether a new damages trial is required.

Apple successfully sued Samsung for infringing upon the iPhone's patented design, including its rectangular front face with rounded edges and grid of colorful icons on a black screen.

Apple's damages were awarded based on Samsung's entire profit from the sale of its infringing smartphones, but Samsung argued that the amount should be a percentage based on individual components like the front bezel or display.

The case progressed all the way to the Supreme Court, which recommended that the U.S. Court of Appeals reconsider the damages amount that Samsung owes. The trial has since returned to the U.S. District Court in Northern California where it began.

Apple's statement about the case from last December:

Our case has always been about Samsung's blatant copying of our ideas, and that was never in dispute. We will continue to protect the years of hard work that has made iPhone the world's most innovative and beloved product. We remain optimistic that the lower courts will again send a powerful signal that stealing isn't right.

Apple was initially awarded nearly $1 billion in damages, but a significant part of the decision was reversed in 2015, leaving Samsung owing $548 million. The amount was eventually lowered to $399 million, and now it may be adjusted again.

Tag: Samsung

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Top Rated Comments

hlfway2anywhere Avatar
104 months ago
Seriously......a fight over 7 year old tech thats obsolete and has cost millions in legal struggles. I have many pieces of tech that have rounded corners. Sorry apple, you didn't invent that. Add colorful icons to that. Guess they better sue nintendo, sony, and EVERY OTHER MANUFACTURER.

Beyond ridiculous at this point.
Smartphones did not look like that until Apple did it. AND Samsung had a whole strategy guide written up to copy the iPhone. That’s the point.
Score: 42 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ignatius345 Avatar
104 months ago
Seriously......a fight over 7 year old tech thats obsolete and has cost millions in legal struggles. I have many pieces of tech that have rounded corners. Sorry apple, you didn't invent that. Add colorful icons to that. Guess they better sue nintendo, sony, and EVERY OTHER MANUFACTURER.

Beyond ridiculous at this point.
1. I think they're trying to set a precedent and 2. come on, the similarities are just glaring. It's very obvious that Samsung looked at the iPhone and just did their best to copy it exactly.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnyb098 Avatar
104 months ago
Seriously......a fight over 7 year old tech thats obsolete and has cost millions in legal struggles. I have many pieces of tech that have rounded corners. Sorry apple, you didn't invent that. Add colorful icons to that. Guess they better sue nintendo, sony, and EVERY OTHER MANUFACTURER.

Beyond ridiculous at this point.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
now i see it Avatar
104 months ago
Hey Samsung, we're going to sue you for hundreds of millions of dollars for copying our iPhone, but could you make our iPhone X screen for us pretty please?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macfacts Avatar
104 months ago
Smartphones did not look like that until Apple did it. AND Samsung had a whole strategy guide written up to copy the iPhone. That’s the point.
You must be very young and never seen palm os PDAs, win mobile phones, Nokia tablets (n770). Devices leading up to the iPhone were converging on that design. Smaller bezels, thinner device.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
stainless Avatar
104 months ago
Let me educate all of you, whom have never patented anything... this case is HUGE!! This case is going to set precedence for many future cases, as Apple had a design Patent! You know when you hear "X Asian country stole our design!!" Most of the time it's referencing a Utility Patent but in this case it's referencing a Design Patent, and while there are other cases won-lost on Design Patents, this is a very serious as to set the tone for what a blatant copy should cost the copier... i.e. SAMSUNG made $500MM not only through the copied product but through ancillary means; product category recognition, accessory sales, brand recognition, alternative product sales, etc. Thus, should SAMSUNG be punished for $500MM or $750MM as to not encourage future copying of someone else's hard work? If SAMSUNG benefits and only pays $100MM, then it's a lose, not only for Apple but ALL OF AMERICA! As you will see company, after company from manufacturing countries take the "What are they going to do, charge me 1/5 of a years profit, tens years afterwards! Hahaha!!!" As far as we Inventors are concerned, Samsung should be responsible for the original nearly billion judgement! Further to this, this process needs to be reduced to Arbitration level of judgement, 12-18 month and you cannot appeal! Most Inventors can't afford to drag on a court case for 2-3 years let along 7!! Shame on this Judge Koh!!
[doublepost=1509029787][/doublepost]
Seriously......a fight over 7 year old tech thats obsolete and has cost millions in legal struggles. I have many pieces of tech that have rounded corners. Sorry apple, you didn't invent that. Add colorful icons to that. Guess they better sue nintendo, sony, and EVERY OTHER MANUFACTURER.

Beyond ridiculous at this point.
You need to look into Design Patents, as that is what this case is revolving around... Apple was granted a full Design Patent, that Samsung blatantly copied!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)