A federal appeals court today reversed part of a verdict won by Apple against foe Samsung regarding its designs and patents.
Apple alleged Samsung copied its iPhone designs, or “trade dress,” as part of its 2011-2012 lawsuit. Apple also sued over patent infringement. A jury agreed in August 2012 and awarded Apple $382 million for the trade dress violation and $548 million for the patent violations — totaling some $930 million.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit agreed that Samsung violated Apple’s patents, but said the iPhone’s trade dress could not be protected. As such, the Federal court is sending the trade dress decision back to lower courts for reconsideration.
Apple and Samsung have given up on most of their legal battles, but this particular case continues to wind its way through courts. Neither Apple nor Samsung offered immediate comment on today’s decision.
