ITC Sides With Samsung, Bans iPhone 4 Imports
Samsung Electronics scored a victory over rival Apple in their dispute over mobile device patents after the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued an order banning older Apple products from the U.S. market.
The ITC ruled on Tuesday Apple had infringed on a patent owned by Samsung that involves the ability of devices to transmit multiple services simultaneously and correctly through 3G wireless technology.
The federal agency banned the imports or sales of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G distributed by AT&T.
The U.S. President has 60 days to review the ruling. If he does not veto the order, it will go into effect.
While the products targeted are old, some models such as the iPhone 4 remain solid sellers.
Apple has been engaged in an international patent war since 2010 as it seeks to limit the growth of Google's Android. That fight has embroiled Samsung, HTC and others that use Android.
Samsung had also accused Apple of infringing on three other patents, but the ITC found that Apple did not infringe those.
"We are disappointed that the commission has overturned an earlier ruling and we plan to appeal. Today's decision has no impact on the availability of Apple products in the United States," Apple said in a statement.
"ITC's decision made it clear that Apple has made an unauthorized use of Samsung's patents," Samsung Electronics said. "We will do our best to defend our intellectual property rights."
ITC cases can be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and from there go to the Supreme Court.
Apple has also filed another complaint against Samsung at the ITC, accusing Samsung blatantly copying its iPhones and iPads. An ITC judge in that case found that Samsung had violated one patent but not a second one. The ITC is set to issue a final ruling on Apple's complaints against Samsung Electronics in August.
The federal agency banned the imports or sales of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G distributed by AT&T.
The U.S. President has 60 days to review the ruling. If he does not veto the order, it will go into effect.
While the products targeted are old, some models such as the iPhone 4 remain solid sellers.
Apple has been engaged in an international patent war since 2010 as it seeks to limit the growth of Google's Android. That fight has embroiled Samsung, HTC and others that use Android.
Samsung had also accused Apple of infringing on three other patents, but the ITC found that Apple did not infringe those.
"We are disappointed that the commission has overturned an earlier ruling and we plan to appeal. Today's decision has no impact on the availability of Apple products in the United States," Apple said in a statement.
"ITC's decision made it clear that Apple has made an unauthorized use of Samsung's patents," Samsung Electronics said. "We will do our best to defend our intellectual property rights."
ITC cases can be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and from there go to the Supreme Court.
Apple has also filed another complaint against Samsung at the ITC, accusing Samsung blatantly copying its iPhones and iPads. An ITC judge in that case found that Samsung had violated one patent but not a second one. The ITC is set to issue a final ruling on Apple's complaints against Samsung Electronics in August.
