Judge Rejects Apple’s Request for Permanent US Ban on Samsung Products

While awarding almost a billion dollars in damages, Judge Lucy Koh has denied Apple’s request for a permanent US sales ban on some Samsung smartphones, saying the iPhone maker did not present enough evidence to show that patented features are key elements of driving consumer demand (via Foss Patents).

“Apple, in other words, cannot obtain a permanent injunction merely because Samsung’s lawful competition impacts Apple in a way that monetary damages cannot remedy. To award an injunction to Apple in these circumstances would ignore the Federal Circuit’s warning that a patentee may not ”leverage its patent for competitive gain beyond that which the inventive contribution and value of the patent warrant.””

This isn’t the first time Koh has rejected Apple’s request, but the US Court of Appeals ordered it to be reconsidered by the Federal Circuit back in November. It is worth mentioning here that the devices Apple would like to see banned from the US are already obsolete, but for Apple this would be an important step toward preventing Samsung from future copying.

The ruling was issued before the tech giants go to trial again at the end of this month. The two parties were ordered to have negotiation talks, but they failed to reach an agreement. Apple and Samsung will meet again in court and clash over five and four patent claims, respectively.