Samsung scored a point today in their ongoing legal volleys with Apple as the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled Apple violated a Samsung patent. In prevailing, the ITC awarded Samsung an import and sales ban on AT&T models of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G. You may recall a while back when ads were running showing Apple device owners using their iOS powered devices performing several functions at one time, like talking on the phone will placing an online order via the web browser. It was this ability to stream multiple data streams that triggered Samsung's action.
According to Samsung, this latest ruling “confirmed Apple's history of free-riding on Samsung's technological innovations.” Samsung went on to indicate in their statement that their “… decades of research and development in mobile technologies will continue and we will continue to offer innovative products to consumers in the United States.” Meanwhile, Apple expressed their disappointment as well as their intent to appeal the ruling. For the immediate future, the ITC order will not have any actual impact on imports and sales of the devices as the order must first be reviewed by President Obama, a process that can take up to 60 days.
The decision by the ITC overturns an earlier ruling issued by Judge James Gildea who had ruled last September that Apple did not infringe on the patent.
In addition to the ruling on the 3G patent, the ITC found Apple was not infringing on three other patents. Apple has a parallel claim in the works regarding two patents it claims Samsung is infringing. An ITC judge has ruled in that case that one patent was violated but not the other. A final ruling in that action is expected in Auguest.
source: Reuters
Wtf!! Well now I know why Obama wants to rework the patent system. How much in bed is he with Apple. Seriously wtf guys!?!