Latest Ruling Allows Apple to Pursue Ban on Samsung Products

An appellate court decision has opened the way for Apple to again pursue a ban on some Samsung Electronics mobile devices found to infringe Apple patents. But the ruling is a mixed bag for Apple, experts say, and will place a bigger burden on parties seeking injunctive relief in patent disputes in the future.

A three-judge federal appellate panel issued the unanimous decision on Monday. The court said U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh erred last fall in rejecting Apple’s attempt to ban Samsung products found to infringe three utility patents covering certain iPhone and iPad features. Koh ruled that Apple failed to prove it suffered irreparable harm from Samsung’s infringement, a requirement for injunctive relief. The panel upheld a portion of the earlier ruling, however, denying an injunction against Samsung devices found to infringe design patents. Read more...