Apple vs. Samsung Lawsuit: South Korean Government 'Concerned' of Obama's Patent Infringement Veto for Apple Inc.'s iPad 2, iPhone 4 US ITC Ban

By Michael Oleaga / m.oleaga@latinospost.com (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Aug 05, 2013 03:49 PM EDT

Tags Apple, samsung, Apple vs. Samsung, Patent Infringement Trial, International Trade Commission, Barack Obama

The Obama administration's decision to overturn the International Trade Commission's (ITC) iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPad 2 ban has brought "concerns" from the South Korean government.

As Latinos Post has been monitoring, the ITC ruled to ban U.S. imports of the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPad 2 after the committee believed Apple infringed upon a Samsung patent. The ruling was made on June 4; however, a 60-day period followed that allowed President Barack Obama to potentially veto the ITC's decision. President Obama transferred the decision to United States Representative Michael Froman.

On Aug. 3, the Obama administration vetoed the ITC's ruling.

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According to Reuters, the South Korean media has criticized the veto as a sign of "protectionism."

"We express concerns about the negative impact that such a decision would have on the protection of patent rights," said South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy.

"We are disappointed that the U.S. Trade Representative has decided to set aside the exclusion order issued by the [ITC]," Samsung said in a statement, via Forbes. "The ITC's decision correctly recognized that Samsung has been negotiating in good faith and that Apple remains unwilling to take a license."

Apple then issued a comment, via CNET: "We applaud the Administration for standing up for innovation in this landmark case. Samsung was wrong to abuse the patent system in this way."

Samsung, which is based in South Korea, has been in an ongoing patent battle with Apple for the past couple years.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy added that the Obama administration and its trade body should make "fair and reasonable decisions." Apple and Samsung have another patent date on Aug. 9 in regards to an imports ban on specific Samsung devices.

According to Bloomberg, President Obama is the first U.S. president to overturn an ITC import ban ruling since Ronald Reagan in 1987, coincidentally in a case involving Samsung.