Samsung Didn't Willfully Infringe Apple Patents, Judge Rules

Samsung had reason to celebrate this week after a federal judge declared that its infringement of Apple iPhone design and utility patents was not a willful scheme.

Still Samsung, the world’s largest device maker, still owes a mammoth fine for violating some Apple intellectual property. But it could have been much worse.

U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh ruled Tuesday that she predominantly agreed with the jury’s decision that Samsung infringed on seven of Apple’s design and utility patents. However, she disagreed with one finding — that Samsung “willfully” infringed on Apple’s patents.

This means is that Apple will not be able to triple its damage awards. If Koh had agreed with the jury on this decision, Apple could have collected up to as much as three times in damages from Samsung.

The trial between the two tech giants wrapped up in August after the jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages. However, the two sides have been slugging it out over a final judgment on damages.

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