Samsung catches a break as Supreme Court reverses Apple's patent victory

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has ruled 8-0 in favor of Korean Smartphone giant Samsung, reversing 2 lower-court decisions made in favor of Apple that culminated in 2012 with US$548 million in damages. The SCOTUS agreed with Samsung's claim that the infringement damages should be based on the design elements copied and not the entire phone (as awarded).

The previous lower-court victories for Apple awarded them damages over utility and design patents, including grids of icons and rounded corners. In December, 2015, Samsung paid the full amount to Apple, but pledged that it would fight to get at least some of it back. That fight of appeal continued until the SCOTUS's decision today. The legal drama will continue, however, as lower courts assess exactly how much of the damages Apple should pay back to Samsung.

Asked for comment by Tech Crunch, Samsung responded with the following:

"The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision today is a victory for Samsung and for all those who promote creativity, innovation and fair competition in the marketplace. We thank our supporters from the world’s leading technology companies, the 50 intellectual property professors, and the many public policy groups who stood with us as we fought for a legal environment that fairly rewards invention and fosters innovation."

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