We're already aware of the result for the Apple versus Samsung US patent battle, which left Samsung with a $1 billion bill. It really couldn't have gone worse for the smartphone manufacturer who has interest in both Android and Windows Phone (the penalty phase returns on September 20th though). Google remained fairly quiet on the front, but has released a statement that details an expected stance on the court results.
For those interested in what the search giant had to say on the matter:
"The court of appeals will review both infringement and the validity of the patent claims. Most of these don't relate to the core Android operating system, and several are being re-examined by the US Patent Office. The mobile industry is moving fast and all players — including newcomers — are building upon ideas that have been around for decades. We work with our partners to give consumers innovative and affordable products, and we don't want anything to limit that."
Samsung has also released an internal memo on the $1 million patent verdict:
"We initially proposed to negotiate with Apple instead of going to court, as they had been one of our most important customers. However, Apple pressed on with a lawsuit, and we have had little choice but to counter-sue, so that we can protect our company.Certainly, we are very disappointed by the verdict at the US District Court for the Northern District of California (NDCA), and it is regrettable that the verdict has caused concern amongst our employees, as well as our loyal customers.However, the judge’s final ruling remains, along with a number of other procedures. We will continue to do our utmost until our arguments have been accepted.The NDCA verdict starkly contrasts decisions made by courts in a number of other countries, such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and Korea, which have previously ruled that we did not copy Apple’s designs. These courts also recognized our arguments concerning our standards patents.History has shown there has yet to be a company that has won the hearts and minds of consumers and achieved continuous growth, when its primary means to competition has been the outright abuse of patent law, not the pursuit of innovation.We trust that the consumers and the market will side with those who prioritize innovation over litigation, and we will prove this beyond doubt."
It'll be interesting to see how this plays out when the court reconvenes, and we'll be keeping an eye on future developments. As we previously covered, Microsoft has cross-licensing agreements in place with Apple, ensuring Windows Phone OEMs are protected from patent claims.
There's a remote possibility the patent verdict could provide Windows Phone with a window of opportunity, but it's still early days. Microsoft still needs to push Windows Phone 8 out the door, as well as working with OEM partners to launch new hardware before we can consider a strong spark of interest from other manufacturers and consumers.
via: Android Central
