Apple has been granted a motion for a permanent injunction against a number of Samsung mobile devices, as the
patent battle between the manufacturers continues. Issued by California District Judge Lucy Koh, the injunction effectively prevents Samsung from selling a range of smartphones ruled to be infringing on three Apple-owned patents within the United States, though the list of items affected by the sales ban consists of legacy devices not typically sold or sought after by customers.
The injunction, stemming from Apple's second patent infringement win against Samsung, relates to patents covering data detection and linking, slide-to-unlock, and autocorrect, and will come into force in 30 days time. The devices affected include the Galaxy Nexus, Note, Note II, S II, SIII, Admire, and Stratosphere, as well as a small number of variants, with the number of older devices suggests the sales ban will not greatly affect Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy SIII
"The Court finds that Apple will suffer irreparable harm if Samsung continues its use of the Infringing features," states the order, continuing "that monetary damages cannot adequately compensate Apple for this resulting harm, and that the balance of equities and public interest favor entry of a permanent injunction." The 2014 verdict awarded Apple only
$120 million, far short of the $2.2 billion it was after, but Apple was quick to demand a
retrial and triple the damages for willful infringement.
Observer
Florian Mueller suggests the sales injunction may be a significant accomplishment for Apple's counsel for years of effort, but it "isn't going to have any direct impact" for Samsung. Aside from the age of the devices, Mueller notes two patents may be invalid, and one may not have been infringed upon "under the appropriate claim construction."
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