After what seems like the longest time (almost five years), Samsung is finally paying Apple $548 million, the amount determined in the lawsuit was appropriate for damages after Samsung infringed on Apple’s patents. The reason it’s taken so long is because Samsung (understandably) went through every possible avenue to repeal the decision and get a retrial. It’s been somewhat of a success, getting the amount whittled down, but that period has ended and its time to pay up. In fact, the only thing the transaction is waiting for is an invoice to move from Apple to Samsung and then it’s all settled. There is a caveat, however.
Samsung includes a pretty interesting passage in its case management statement:
“Samsung continues to reserve all rights to obtain reimbursement from Apple and/or payment by Apple of all amounts required to be paid as taxes. […] Samsung further reserves all rights to reclaim or obtain reimbursement of any judgment amounts paid by Samsung to any entity in the event the partial judgment is reversed, modified, vacated or set aside on appeal or otherwise, including as a result of any proceedings before the USPTO addressing the patents at issue or as a result of any petition for writ of certiorari filed with the Supreme Court. Samsung notes that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board has issued a final decision of invalidity on the ‘915 Patent, and Apple filed a notice of appeal to the Federal Circuit in the USPTO last week.”
For those that want the tl;dr version, Samsung is pretty much saying that the money might not stay with Apple if Samsung can still find a way to reverse the decision. Naturally, Apple refutes this right, and so it keeps on going. I’m sure this ordeal is going to keep rolling on as long as both companies have money, so let’s just see where it goes from here.
What do you think about the fact Samsung is finally paying Apple $548 million? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source:Â FOSS Patents via SamMobile
