Apple Wins: Proves Samsung Infringed Patents As Jury Awards $1B+ In Damages

Apple has won most of its case against Samsung. The jury found in Apple’s favor on an overwhelming majority of claims. Samsung was found to have infringed six of seven Apple patents. Conversely, the jury found against Samsung on almost all claims, including arguments that Apple’s patents were invalid.

The jury also found that Samsung’s infringement was “willful” in several cases and awarded Apple more than $1 billion in damages. By the same token Samsung mostly drew a blank on its claims and was awarded $0 damages.

The Korean handset maker will certainly appeal. But the outlook for success on appeal is limited. The verdict vindicates Apple’s contention that Samsung “shamelessly copied” the iPhone. It’s a major victory for Apple. It’s a humiliating defeat for Samsung’s legal counsel.

It will take a little while to fully digest the outcome and analyze what it will mean for Samsung’s handsets, for Android more broadly and for the industry as a whole. Some people will lament the outcome as striking a blow against competition. By contrast others will argue that the decision now forces Apple’s competitors to genuinely “innovate.”

I expected a positive outcome for Apple but not one quite this lopsided. Samsung was almost entirely shut out, although some of its devices were deemed not to have infringed Apple patents. Apple failed to prove that Samsung’s patents were invalid and it failed on antitrust claims against Samsung. The Galaxy Tab was also found not to have infringed the iPad’s design. Otherwise it was a massive legal victory for Cupertino in a very important and closely watched case.

There will now be extensive analysis of what the case means. Each aspect of the verdict will likely be dissected and discussed. We’ll also offer our thoughts later as we reflect on the outcome. With just over two days of deliberation the jury appears to have reached its verdict much more quickly than expected given the complexity of the claims and issues.

Below is how the reading of the verdict unfolded in more or less real time. I wasn’t present in the courtroom but relied on Twitter, CNET and TheVerge’s live in-courtroom reporting.

The verdict as it unfolded:

The jury found that Samsung did infringe at least some of Apple’s patents. The verdict is being read right now.

More Samsung infringement found, including the Galaxy 10.1. However not all Samsung devices found to be infringing.

The verdict is moving claim by patent claim through each patent and set of Samsung devices allegedly infringing. This is so far a victory for Apple. Most of the verdict is going its way.

More infringement found on Apple’s “381 patent.” No Samsung devices spared on this one.

This is turning out to be the mixed verdict I predicted earlier, but mostly positive for Apple. Samsung’s claims have yet to be read however.

Galaxy S/S 4G smartphone found to be infringing. Samsung is taking a major hit here, though some devices escaping.

So far 7 patent claims have been addressed. In almost every case some Samsung infringement has been found.

Willful infringement? The jury says “yes” for most of the Samsung devices. This has big damages implications.

All of Apple’s patents were found to be valid by the jury. Samsung had claimed that some were invalid. That defense failed apparently.

So far about 75 percent of what Apple claimed has been vindicated by this jury. The court is still going through the individual claims and questions in Apple’s case. The jury has yet to get to Samsung’s claims.

Apple is losing on some of its “trade dress claims.” No on to damages.

The jury has awarded $1.05 billion in damages to Apple. That’s less important to Apple than the idea that its claims were vindicated and that Samsung may have to change some of its designs.

Now Samsung’s claims against Apple are being addressed. So far the jury is finding “no” or against Samsung. Samsung has lost so far on all of its claims against Apple. Apple did not prove Samsung’s patents were invalid however.

Apple did not prove antitrust violations against Samsung. So it didn’t succeed across the board. But Samsung won almost nothing. If it were a baseball game the score would be Apple 10, Samsung 1.