Apple and Samsung both fined and banned by South Korean court over patents

24 Aug 2012

A court in Seoul has ordered Apple and Samsung to remove some of their smartphone and tablet computer devices – including iPhone, iPad and Galaxy devices – ruling that each infringed the other’s patents.

The court ordered Apple to remove its iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4, the first generation iPad and iPad 2 from shelves in South Korea because it infringed two of Samsung’s patents.

The court decided that Samsung infringed one of Apple’s screen patents and banned sales of the Galaxy S II in South Korea.

Both companies have been ordered to pay compensation to each other with Apple paying Samsung 40m won and Samsung paying Apple 25m won, which is stg£22,000 and stg£14,000 respectively.

The court decision comes as a nine-person jury in California deliberates over a US$2bn IP infringement case between Apple and Samsung. Closing arguments were heard earlier this week.

Smartphone image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com