Samsung Apple Patent War: 7 Interesting Facts you need to know

A long ongoing patent case between Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. was finally put to an end by a Federal Appeals Court on Friday, where a panel of three judges reversed a 2014 verdict which had forced the Korean company to pay $119.6 million fine for infringing patents.

On the contrary Apple stand at the brink of paying $158,400 for infringing in a patent by Samsung. This is apparently an epic example of how a case can do so wrong against the company which was jumping in joy just a year ago!

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Well, the Apple Samsung patent dispute is nothing knew and as many may know already the case have been going on for nearly half a decade. Just in case you are curious to know here's how it all begun.

The Backdrop: It all began in 2011

Back in 2011 Apple had sued Samsung for the first time claiming that the Korean electronics maker had stolen some design ques from their iPhone and incorporated it in their Galaxy smartphones and tablet.

The Cupertino giant followed this up by filing yet another patent suit the next year that is 2012 stating that Samsung had now borrowed software features of the iPhone, and the result of this case was finally announced by a Federal Appeals Court last Friday. Apple had cumulatively sought more than $4.5 billion for these patent infringement from Samsung.

2012: Samsung to pay Apple $548 million

A federal jury in 2012 had announced a verdict in favour of Apple that Samsung had infringed into all except one patents filed by the Cupertino giant. These include patents related to key design elements including the rounded corners of iPhone and the apps icon of its software interface. Eventually Samsung has agreed to pay Apple damages worth 8 million as a result of this verdict.

2012: Apple wants another $380 million

Apple however isn't happy to let them go so easily and the two company are set to fight again over $380 million more in damage. Samsung has however gone to the Supreme Court to appeal for their case.

2014: Samsung charged $119 million as damages

Now coming to the second case filed by Apple in 2012, a jury consisting of nine judges ruled yet another decision in favour of Apple, thereby forcing the Korean electronics giant to pay over $119 million in damages. The patents in question were the quick links feature that produces links of number, URLs in messages and the popular Slide to Unlock feature.

While Apple wasn't content with the decision as the Cupertino giant had appealed for compensations as high as $2.2 billion, there was no denying that the verdict had hurt Samsung badly. Incidentally Apple would also be required to pay Samsung a minor amount of $158,400 due to a patent infringement related to organizing photos and videos in the gallery.

2016: Federal court overturns the $119 million verdict in favour of Apple

Jury found that two of the three patents filed by Apple shouldn't have been granted it the first place. Apart from that the Korean electronics giant hadn't infringed onto the third patent, as charged by Apple. On the contrary the jury collectively held Apple guilty infringing into a Samsung patent for which they owe the company damages worth $158,400.

This sudden change in the fortunes have surprised the world media and people involved in the field of technology. As it has turned out to be, Apple is at a grave loss considering the fact that the Cupertino giant had filed the patent dispute case initially.

20XX: Will Apple move to the Supreme Court?

While it appears that the Cupertino giant may move to the Supreme court to overturn the decision, Rutgers University law professor Michael Carrier told WSJ that the case is "much too far in weeds for the Supreme Court".