Apple and Samsung have agreed to settle their patent disputes outside the USA, which means ongoing litigation in Japan, Germany, South Korea, the Netherlands, Australia, the UK, France and Italy will come to a close.
According to the Financial Times, both companies released the following joint statement:
“Apple and Samsung have agreed to drop all litigation between the two companies outside the US,”
“This agreement does not involve any licensing arrangements, and the companies are continuing to pursue the existing cases in US courts.”
In other words, the patent disputes are far from over, but they will now take place only inside the U.S., probably saving both companies time and money.
This May, in the second high profile trial between both companies which took place in California, a jury concluded Samsung infringed on Apple patents and required the South Korean company to pay $120 million.
Back in August of 2012, a jury concluded Samsung owed Apple $1.04 billion in damages for infringing on the latter’s patents.
Apple is set to announce its next generation iPhone 6 this September 9, which is said to include two models. Not to be outdone (again), Samsung has announced it will hold a similar event on September 3 to unveil its new Galaxy Note 4, and possibly a new flagship Galaxy Alpha smartphone, which leaked earlier today.
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What a rubbish decision!
This just means it’ll be easier to follow the action when it’s only in the USA. Time to stock up on the popcorn.
LOL Let’s see this unfold