27 Aug 2012

Samsung to appeal against ruling

6:34 am on 27 August 2012

Samsung is to appeal against a United States court ruling that found it stole designs from Apple to create its own smartphones and computer tablets.

After a year of litigation, a federal court in California on Friday ordered Samsung to pay just over $US1 billion in damages.

The BBC reports that Samsung said the ruling would lead to fewer choices, less innovation and potentially higher prices for consumers.

And it condemned what it suggested was an attempt by Apple to monopolise the smartphone market.

It is unfortunate, it said, that patent law can be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners.

Apple brought the lawsuit against Samsung last year, accusing it of copying the design and features of its iPhone and iPad.

Samsung denied this and in return brought suits against Apple, saying the US company infringed patents on its wireless technology.

But the jury rejected Samsung's claims and awarded it no damages.