Apple loses Japan lawsuit against Samsung

[TOKYO]

APPLE lost a patent lawsuit in Japan as a Tokyo judge ruled that Samsung Electronics smartphones and tablet computers didn't infringe on an Apple invention in the most recent decision of a global dispute.

Samsung's Galaxy smartphones and a tablet didn't breach Apple's patent related to synchronising music and video data in devices to servers, Tokyo District Judge Tamotsu Shoji ruled yesterday.

Apple and Samsung are battling over the smartphone market, estimated by Bloomberg Industries to be worth US$219 billion last year, with patent disputes being litigated on four continents. Apple won a US$1.05 billion verdict in the US on Aug 24, with a jury finding that Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung infringed six of seven patents for mobile devices. The two companies are also bound by commercial deals involving components supply.

Apple, the maker of iPhones, sued Samsung, the world's biggest maker of mobile phones, in Tokyo last year, claiming the Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab and Galaxy S II infringed the patent on synchronisation, and sought 100 million yen (S$1.6 million) in damages, according to court documents. The Galaxy-series of products in Japan is offered by NTT DoCoMo, the country's biggest mobile-phone company.

Samsung doesn't provide sales figures for Japan. The company generated about 12 per cent of its revenue from Asia, excluding South Korea and China, in the quarter ended June 30.

Cupertino, California-based Apple got 5.7 per cent of its sales in Japan during the same period, according to the data.

Both companies were barred from selling some phones and tablet computers in South Korea on Aug 24 when a Seoul Central District Court ruled they infringed each other's patents.

Apple was ordered to stop selling the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad 1 and iPad 2 in South Korea, while Samsung must stop selling 12 products including the Galaxy S, Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab. Apple was also ordered to pay Samsung 40 million won (S$44,000) and the South Korean company must pay its US rival 25 million won for the patent infringements.

In the US, where Samsung had been barred from selling the Galaxy 10.1 tablet, Apple sought to extend the ban to eight models of Samsung smartphones following the jury verdict.

Samsung retained its position as the world's biggest seller of smartphones in the second quarter, holding about 35 per cent of the market, Strategy Analytics said in July. Apple had the second slot with about 18 per cent. - Bloomberg

Source: http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/premium/world/apple-loses-japan-lawsuit-against-samsung-20120901

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