PAIn the ever-raging debate over android versus Apple smartphones, it seems Team Samsung have been delivered a devastating blow by the judicial system.
For the past decade or so, smartphone tech giants have been vying for the top spot by ‘borrowing’ features from their competitors’ phones. As consumers, we all know it, and the truth of the matter is, they’re all much of a muchness now.
Things reached peak 21st century when Samsung trolled Apple in this advert:
Sick burn. Luckily Apple can probably afford a lot of Aloe to ease the hurt now they’ve been awarded $539 million in damages from Samsung’s pocket.
Our greatest suspicions have been confirmed by a jury which, after deliberating for five days, decreed the South Korean company have copied Apple iPhone technology in their own gadgets.
Samsung has just been ordered to pay Apple a cool $539 million, but aren’t taking the decision lying down, reports Gizmodo.
PASamsung said in a statement:
Today’s decision flies in the face of a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in favour of Samsung on the scope of design patent damages.
We will consider all options to obtain an outcome that does not hinder creativity and fair competition for all companies and consumers.
PixabayBoth companies have been throwing thousand-pound toys out of their capitalist prams for some time now, in an ongoing legal saga which began back in 2011.
Apple kicked off proceedings when they requested a cool $2.5 billion (£1.87 billion) after claiming Samsung ripped off iPhone features for their handsets.
They were awarded $1 billion (£750 million) by a jury the following year.
PAThen an appeal court decided Apple couldn’t lay claim to the iPhone’s slick appearance.
It was an odd choice. Apparently if a handset is universally appropriated the designers have to just appease themselves by understanding imitation is the highest form of flattery.
Thus, Samsung was asked to pay $548m (£328m).
GettyAs you imagine, Samsung still aren’t particularly happy to part with such a large wedge of cash, and they still believe they don’t owe Apple this sum.
In this ongoing battle of tit for tat, a million here and a million there, the company thinks it only need pay for the parts they used and not damages equivalent to profits from the iPhone.
As such, the amount Samsung is willing to pay is $28m (£21m) – and tacitly admitting they might have pilfered just enough from Apple to deserve a metaphorically financial slap on the wrist?
Apple thinks not, and in a statement after the latest ruling, said:
Samsung should pay for copying our products. This case has always been about more than money.
Apple ignited the smartphone revolution with iPhone and it is a fact that Samsung blatantly copied our design.
Maybe Motorola is all that’s left for us:
Now consumers are left to decide between an allegedly copycat company and a business empire with a monopoly and a reputation for forcing phone lag to rip off customers – and let’s not forget those facial recognition issues.
Android forever? Bring back the Nokia 3310, mate.
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A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.