Apple wins (and consumers lose) as Samsung ordered to pay $1.05 billion

Samsung is ordered to pay more than $1.05 billion to Apple as a nine-person jury at the federal court in San Jose, California ruled that the South Korean electronics giant willfully infringed on six out of the seven Apple mobile design and user interface patents that were the subject of the case.

The jurors found that Samsung violated the design patent for the front of the iPhone and a patent regarding the general outline or "ornamental" design of a phone. Samsung was also found the violate several user interface patents, including showing rounded square icons against a black background, the use of a rubber band effect (which occurs when the bottom of the page is reached while scrolling), as well as pinch-to-zoom, and double tapping to zoom. A device scorecard that shows which Samsung devices infringe on these Apple patents can be found at CNET.

Samsung's counter-claims that Apple's devices infringed on its patents were wiped off the table, and efforts to nullify Apple's patents did not succeed. The ruling is a major victory for Apple in the company's war against Samsung and the Android ecosystem, the company applauded the decision and said it intends to seek sales injuctions at the follow-up hearing on September 20.

Samsung announced it will appeal the decision and send out a press release in which it calls the verdict a loss for the consumer, claiming it will lead to fewer choices, less innovation and potentially higher prices.

I agree with this and strongly believe the US patent systems needs an overhaul. It's sad to see companies being able to patent broad, vague and ubiquitous things like a "rectangle-shaped device". Less money for the legal department and more for the innovators please.