An International Trade Commission judge ruled that Samsung is infringing on an Apple patent with a text-selection feature it includes in its mobile devices.
In a decision issued on March 26 but kept confidential until Thursday, an ITC judge gave a preliminary decision that found Samsung to be infringing on one of two Apple patents in question. Depending on the decision of the full ITC commission, the devices that include the infringing technology — including Samsung’s Galaxy, Transform, and Nexus devices, as well as others — could face import bans in the United States, Reuters reported on Friday.
The patent in question is U.S. Patent No. RE41,922, covering a “method and apparatus for providing translucent images on a computer display.” The features found to be in violation are the text selection feature in the Android Browser app and the translucent buttons of the Android photo gallery app.
In the same decision, the judge found that Samsung did not infringe on another Apple patent that covers whether a device can tell whether a microphone or other attachment is plugged into its microphone jack.
The ruling was issued on March 26th, but was kept confidential until Thursday, to allow Apple and Samsung to redact sensitive business information.
The full International Trade Commission will decide to uphold or overturn the judges decision, with a final decision expected in August.
