S Korean court rules Apple, Samsung infringed each other's patents
24 Aug 2012
A South Korean court yesterday ordered a partial ban on products of technology rivals Apple and Samsung Electronics in the country after ruling that both companies have infringed on each other's patents.
The court in Seoul ruled that Apple's iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad and the iPad 2 have infringed on two of Samsung's mobile-data transfer technology patents and ordered that these devices be removed from the shelves in South Korea. The sales bans do not cover Apple's latest iPhone 4S or its newest iPad.
The Seoul Central District Court also ordered the California-based Apple to pay Samsung 40 million won ($35,400) as damages.
The three-judge panel also ruled that Samsung has infringed on one of Apple's patent related to the bounce-back feature when scrolling on touch screens, and banned sales of the Galaxy S2 smartphone and 9 other products excluding the Galaxy S3, in South Korea.
Samsung was ordered to pay Apple 22 million won ($22,000) in damages.
Both companies had asked for small compensation due to the small size of the South Korean market.