The Apple-Samsung patent trial came to a close last night with the jury unanimously finding that that Samsung had infringed upon multiple patents for technologies used in the iPhone and iPad. The crux of the finding was that Samsung was guilty of infringing upon numerous Apple patents, and that Apple should be awarded in excess of $1 billion for the losses it has incurred as a result of Samsung’s actions.
Apple spokesperson Katie Cotton noted (via NYTimes) “The mountain of evidence presented during the trail showed that Samsung’s copying went far deeper than even we knew. The lawsuits between Apple and Samsung were about much more than patents or money. They were about values. At Apple, we value originality and innovation and pour our lives into making the best products on earth. We make these products to delight our customers, not for our competitors to flagrantly copy“.
Samsung, however was far from happy, with a statement saying “Today’s verdict should not be viewed as a win for Apple, but as a loss for the American consumer…It is unfortunate that patent law can be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners, or technology that is being improved every day by Samsung and other companies“.
While this may seem like bluster following the loss in the courtroom, it is perhaps more accurate as a reflection of the situation than one may realize. In this case ‘improving’ is the key word, rather than ‘innovating’. In order to ‘improve’ a product, which in itself is subjective, the product or technology must first be invented. It is this lack of invention that was at the core of this trial.
This trial was about more than money or compensation. It was about sending a message.
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