Apple CEO Tim Cook sent a memo to the company’s corporate employees late on Friday after the company’s landslide win in court. A federal jury ruled that Samsung had willfully copied Apple in bringing some of its smartphones and tablets to market, and Mr. Cook said he hopes it sends a message that “stealing isn’t right.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook
The note specifically echoes Apple’s PR statement released after the ruling, including the point that Apple’s suit was about, “more than patents or money,” that it was about values.
The note in full, as obtained by 9to5Mac.
Today was an important day for Apple and for innovators everywhere.
Many of you have been closely following the trial against Samsung in San Jose for the past few weeks. We chose legal action very reluctantly and only after repeatedly asking Samsung to stop copying our work. For us this lawsuit has always been about something much more important than patents or money. It’s about values. We value originality and innovation and pour our lives into making the best products on earth. And we do this to delight our customers, not for competitors to flagrantly copy.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the jury who invested their time in listening to our story. We were thrilled to finally have the opportunity to tell it. The mountain of evidence presented during the trial showed that Samsung’s copying went far deeper than we knew.
The jury has now spoken. We applaud them for finding Samsung’s behavior willful and for sending a loud and clear message that stealing isn’t right.
I am very proud of the work that each of you do.
Today, values have won and I hope the whole world listens.
Tim
While Apple did score a substantial victory in Friday’s verdict, there is still a long road in front of the company. Samsung has promised to appeal, and Apple still has at least one injunction hearing in front of it, and any ruling from Judge Lucy Koh in that hearing will also likely be appealed.