Apple wins patent appeal against Samsung over autocorrect, unlocking and linking features

By:

Add as a preferred source on Google

Apple has potentially won the right to stop Samsung selling phones that used its technology without proper permission.

Although Apple had already won the case back in 2014, it appealed the decision in which it was awarded $120m (£76m) in damages, but that Samsung did not have to stop selling the devices that use the disputed features, including autocorrect software, sliding a finger on a screen to unlock a phone and ways to turn text into hyperlinks.

Judges at the time ruled that Samsung could continue to sell the items in question, arguing that Apple had not demonstrated any significant harm caused by the infringement, but this latest ruling overturns that decision. Two of the three judges reviewing the case have said Apple deserves an injunction to stop Samsung selling some phones.

The case will now return to the lower district court which will decide on whether an injunction is appropriate.

By now, however, most the handsets in question – such as the Galaxy S3 – are no longer big sellers and in some cases have disappeared from shop shelves. 
 
Samsung said the decision would not stop it selling its flagship handsets and added that the decision was "unfounded".
 
"We will pursue our rights to have the full Court of Appeal review today's decision," it said in a statement.
 
Apple repeated a statement it made early in the case in which it accused Samsung of "wilfully" stealing its technology.