Court Orders Apple To Disclose Terms Of Deal With HTC
Samsung won the right to view the terms of Apple and HTC's global licensing agreement a U.S. judge ordered on Wednesday.
Samsung had earlier filed a motion
to compel its rival to reveal details of the settlement that was reached on November 10 with HTC.
The court ordered Apple to produce a full copy of the settlement agreement and provide it to Samsung's lawyers.
In August, the iPhone maker won a $1.05 billion verdict against Samsung after a U.S. jury found that certain Samsung gadgets violated Apple's software and design patents.
The question of which patents are covered by the Apple-HTC settlement along with the licensing deails could be instrumental in Samsung's efforts to thwart Apple's subsequent quest for a permanent sales ban on its products.
Samsung claims that the HTC deal covers some of the same patents involved in its own litigation with Apple.
"Leaked" parts of the aggrement show that Apple wanted to ensure that its patents would not change hands in case of a possible purchase or hostile takeover of HTC.
Although patent disputes between large companies are typically resolved with cross patent licensing agreements, neither Samsung nor Apple seem to be willing to proceed accordingly.
The head of Samsung's mobile communications business voiced confidence on Wednesday that his company can win its worldwide patent battle with Apple.
Shin Jong-kyun told reporters Apple will realize that "it is impossible to make a mobile phone without using Samsung's patented communications technologies."
Shin added, "The truth will become evident and although it will be difficult, things will work out in the end."
Samsung gained a break in the legal battle in the U.S. when the International Trade Commission on Monday pledged to review "in its entirety" a preliminary ruling on Sept. 14 that Apple did not violate Samsung's patents.
Samsung has also requested the California court to add three newly released Apple products -- the iPod Touch 5, the iPad 4 and the iPad mini -- to the list of devices that it claims to have infringed on some of its patents.
The court ordered Apple to produce a full copy of the settlement agreement and provide it to Samsung's lawyers.
In August, the iPhone maker won a $1.05 billion verdict against Samsung after a U.S. jury found that certain Samsung gadgets violated Apple's software and design patents.
The question of which patents are covered by the Apple-HTC settlement along with the licensing deails could be instrumental in Samsung's efforts to thwart Apple's subsequent quest for a permanent sales ban on its products.
Samsung claims that the HTC deal covers some of the same patents involved in its own litigation with Apple.
"Leaked" parts of the aggrement show that Apple wanted to ensure that its patents would not change hands in case of a possible purchase or hostile takeover of HTC.
Although patent disputes between large companies are typically resolved with cross patent licensing agreements, neither Samsung nor Apple seem to be willing to proceed accordingly.
The head of Samsung's mobile communications business voiced confidence on Wednesday that his company can win its worldwide patent battle with Apple.
Shin Jong-kyun told reporters Apple will realize that "it is impossible to make a mobile phone without using Samsung's patented communications technologies."
Shin added, "The truth will become evident and although it will be difficult, things will work out in the end."
Samsung gained a break in the legal battle in the U.S. when the International Trade Commission on Monday pledged to review "in its entirety" a preliminary ruling on Sept. 14 that Apple did not violate Samsung's patents.
Samsung has also requested the California court to add three newly released Apple products -- the iPod Touch 5, the iPad 4 and the iPad mini -- to the list of devices that it claims to have infringed on some of its patents.
