South Korean Court Says Apple Didn't Violate Three Samsung Patents

The Seoul Central District Court ruled on Wednesday that Apple wasn't infringing on three Samsung patents. Businessweek reported that the court dismissed Samsung's claims, saying that technologies covered by two of the patents could be easily developed, while Apple didn't violate the third patent at all.

Apple v. Samsung

Samsung had been asking for a sales ban on six iPhone and iPad models, as well as 100 million Korean won (~US$95,000) in damages. The judge dismissed both claims.

This is a blow for South Korea-based Samsung, as the courts in its back yard are the only ones the electronics giant has been able to score a victory against Apple. Indeed, this same court ruled last year that Apple and Samsung were both infringing on each others patents. This time around, however, Samsung came up empty.

"We are glad the Korean court joined others around the world in standing up for real innovation and rejecting Samsung's ridiculous claims," Apple Inc. spokesman Steve Park told Businessweek.

For its part, Samsung issued a statement saying, "As Apple has continued to infringe our patented mobile technologies, we will continue to take the measures necessary to protect our intellectual property rights."

Apple and Samsung continue to fight other infringement battles in other countries, including the U.S., where Samsung is appealing a US$930 damages award won by Apple, and an entirely new case is just getting off the ground.