Apple is seeking $2.2 billion in damages from Samsung for infringing five key patents at a crucial juncture when the smartphone market was expanding. It claims loss in profit.
Apple and Samsung are far from settling their legal disputes as the recent development in their latest trial has taken a new turn. During the fifth day of the case in the U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif., Apple said it was entitled to $2.2 billion in damages from the South Korean tech giant for infringing on five of its key patents. Apple is demanding the massive fine because the infringement happened when the smartphone market was experiencing a rapid expansion.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Christopher Vellturo, an economist and Apple's damages expert, said the $2.2 billion figure was settled by calculating the lost sales, profits and reasonable royalties for Apple. He also noted that the time span when the infringement happened played an important role in Samsung winning millions of customers. According to Vellturo, Samsung sold more than 37 million devices that infringed Apple's patents.
The patents in question include software related to features such as quick links, automatic word correction, universal search, background syncing and slide to unlock, CNET reports. Vellturo notes that these features enabled Samsung devices to offer more engaging interface and ease of use.
"That had a dramatic effect on Apple, and the compensation is therefore substantial," said Vellturo, WSJ reports.
The patent infringement trial is not one-sided, Samsung is also seeking about $7 million from Apple for infringing two of its software patents. Samsung's patents include the camera and folder organization functionality and video transmission function. According to Samsung's claims, the handsets that infringe two of its patents include iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad Mini, iPod Touch (fifth generation) and iPod Touch (fourth generation). Meanwhile, Samsung gadgets involved in the patent infringement suit are Admire, Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S II, Galaxy SII Epic 4G Touch, Galaxy SII Skyrocket, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, and the Stratosphere.
The latest in the Apple-Samsung feud is expected to last till the end of this month. The San Jose court will be in session three days each week, Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and the jury will work each business day until a verdict has been finalized.
Samsung has been ordered to pay about $930 million in damages to Apple, so far. Apple has hired Vellturo for the latest trial for $700 per hour and the case has approximately reached 800 hours, bringing the total fee to $560,000.
