Apple vs. Samsung legal battles

Apple vs. Samsung legal battles summarized
Posted: Aug 31, 2012 11:18 AM Updated: Aug 31, 2012 11:18 AM

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By The Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) - Apple Inc. of the U.S. and Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea are embroiled in legal battles in 10 nations over intellectual property, spanning dozens of cases. Here are details of some of the bigger legal fights:

- In the U.S., Apple scored a major victory on Aug. 24 when a jury found Samsung had "willfully" copied Apple's iPhone and iPad, and awarded Apple $1 billion in damages. Apple is now requesting eight Samsung products be banned from the U.S. market. A hearing was rescheduled for Dec. 6.

- In South Korea, the court on Aug. 24 dismissed Apple's claim that Samsung copied the look and feel of the iPhone and the iPad in a ruling widely seen as a victory for Samsung. Still, the judges issued bans on some Samsung and Apple products. It found that Apple illegally used Samsung's wireless technology while Samsung violated Apple's patent related to the way mobile devices notify users when an image reaches to the end.

- In Japan, the Tokyo District Court denied Apple's claim on Aug. 31 that Samsung infringed upon Apple's patent to have mobile devices and personal computers "synchronize" or share data with each other. Other cases in Japan are still pending.

- In Germany, a Dusseldorf court said last month Samsung's Galaxy Tap 7.7 imitated Apple's design in an "unacceptable manner" and ordered European sales stopped. But the court said another Samsung tablet computer no longer infringed Apple's iPad patents or designs after making enough changes. Other cases are still pending.

- In Australia, Samsung became free to sell its Galaxy tablet computers after the country's highest court dismissed Apple's appeal in December 2011. But separate legal battles are ongoing over various patents.

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