Apple's Samsung Damages Jiggled But Not Jacked Up

Apple's damages pay-out from Samsung has been shuffled but not materially changed, with the jury in the patent trial granting extra cash for one infringement but notching back the sum on another to compensate. Apple was awarded $119m by the San Jose court on Friday last week, but asked by Justice Lucy Koh to re-examine the final awards after not granting damages for one case of Samsung's infringement.

Hopes that this would mean extra cash and prove more of a challenge to Samsung were dashed, however, with the jury effectively recalculating its overall awards rather than adding to them.

Apple had sought a hefty $2.2bn from its South Korean rival, instead being given a fraction of that amount. Samsung, meanwhile, was given even less: $158,400, over a patent of its own.

The final award – over the Galaxy S II – came to $4m, but the jury opted to reduce what it had awarded in other categories. Unsurprisingly, both companies are counting the decision as a win.

"We are grateful to the jury and the court for their service. Today's ruling reinforces what courts around the world have already found: That Samsung willfully stole our ideas and copied our products. We are fighting to defend the hard work that goes into beloved products like the iPhone, which our employees devote their lives to designing and delivering for our customers" Apple

"We agree with the jury's decision to reject Apple's grossly exaggerated damages claim. Although we are disappointed by the finding of infringement, we are vindicated that for the second time in the U.S., Apple has been found to infringe Samsung's patents. It is our long history of innovation and commitment to consumer choice, that has driven us to become the leader in the mobile industry today" Samsung

VIA Re/code