Apple successfully argued during a 2012 trial that Samsung infringed its patents.
Vicki Behringer/court artist
Apple sure isn't impressed by Samsung's Supreme Court plea.
The company on Thursday filed its response to Samsung's request for the Supreme Court to examine the patent infringement suit between the two electronics giants. And shocker, it doesn't want this thing to drag out.
Apple argued that the case "is legally unexceptional" and asked Supreme Court to not "prolong" its battle against Samsung. It also said the case doesn't present a important question requiring a resolution by the nation's highest court.
"Samsung had its day in court -- many days, in fact -- and the properly instructed jury was well-justified in finding that Samsung copied Apple's designs and should pay the damages that the statute expressly authorizes," Apple's filing said.
Samsung in mid-December filed a request with the US Supreme Court, asking it to re-examine the decisions made in the patent infringement lawsuits pitting Samsung against Apple. The trial, which ended in 2012, cast a bright light on the designs behind some of the most popular phones, and it resulted in Samsung ultimately having to pay Apple $548 million.
Having the Supreme Court review the case could potentially redefine design patents and limit patent trolls from cashing in on intellectual property. The case has drawn dozens of legal experts, nonprofit organizations and technology companies, which together filed six amicus, or "friend of the court," briefs in support of Samsung, urging the US Supreme Court to consider the patent-infringement case.
If the Supreme Court decides to take the case, its eventual decision could have a ripple effect on the technology industry and the kinds of gadgets you'll be able to buy. Samsung and some of Silicon Valley's biggest players have argued that the lower-court ruling as it stands may have a "devastating impact" on the introduction of new products because of a heightened fear of legal challenges. Apple said that it was doing what was necessary to defend its intellectual property and the value of its blockbuster iPhone franchise.
Samsung on Thursday said in a statement that "Apple stands alone in opposing US Supreme Court review of this important case."
"Samsung and its supporters believe that a fair interpretation of patent law is critical for the future of US innovation," the company said. "If the legal precedent in this case stands, innovation could be diminished, competition could be stifled and opportunistic lawsuits could have negative effects throughout the US economy."