Apple vs. Samsung Patent Infringement Lawsuit Case: US ITC Rules Samsung Violated Apple Inc. iPhone Patents, Sales Ban Issued [Document Included]

The U.S. International Trade Commission has issued a ruling to ban a number of Samsung devices for infringing Apple Inc.'s patents.

The patents in question include no. 7,479,949 and no. 7,912,501, which involve touchscreen technology and the detection when something is plugged into the headphone jack.

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"The Commission has determined that the appropriate remedy is a limited exclusion order prohibiting Samsung from importing certain electronic digital media devices that infringe one or more [of Apple's claims]...," wrote Acting Secretary of the ITC Lisa R. Barton.

The ITC also ruled on claims Samsung violated Apple patents on certain device's designs. The commission, however, ruled Samsung did not infringe on such patents.

"With today's decision, the ITC has joined courts around the world in Japan, Korea, Germany, Netherlands, and California by standing up for innovation and rejecting Samsung's blatant copying of Apple's products," Apple said in a statement, via CNET. "Protecting real innovation is what the patent system should be about."

Samsung spokesman Adam Yates stated, "We are disappointed that the ITC has issued an exclusion order based on two of Apple's patents. However, Apple has been stopped from trying to use its overbroad design patents to achieve a monopoly on rectangles and rounded corners. The proper focus for the smartphone industry is not a global war in the courts, but fair competition in the marketplace. Samsung will continue to launch many innovative products, and we have already taken measures to ensure that all of our products will continue to be available in the United States."

The ITC ruling comes a week after U,S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, on behalf of the Obama administration, vetoed the commission's ruling to ban the U.S. imports of the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPad 2.

As Latinos Post reported, Froman stated, "After extensive consultations with the agencies of the Trade Policy Staff Committee and the Trade Policy Review Group, as well as other interested agencies and persons, I have decided to disapprove the USITC's determination to use an exclusion order and cease and desist order in this investigation."

According to Froman, the veto decision was based on his review of the various policy considerations in relation to the effect on "competitive conditions" in the U.S. economy and how it could affect U.S. consumers.

President Barack Obama and USTR Representative Froman can also veto the latest ITC ruling as long as it takes place within 60 days of the commission's Aug. 9 decision.

Latinos Post has chronicled the start of the Apple vs. Samsung patent infringement case dating back to Apple's original complaint, which can be read here.

   UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION: Samsung Ruling on Aug. 9

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For the latest updates, follow Latinos Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO

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