A U.S. appeals court on Monday reversed a portion of the $930 million verdict that Apple won from Samsung in a 2012 patent lawsuit, saying Apple’s trade dress for the iPhone could not be protected.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the patent infringement violations found by the jury. But the $382 million awarded for trade dress dilution will have to be reconsidered by the lower court. Trade dress is a legal term for a trademark on the way a product is packaged or presented.
This leaves Samsung still owing Apple $548 million in damages if the lower courts reconsidering the case decide to totally reject the $382 million awarded earlier. The actual amount will be recalculated by the lower court, following today’s ruling.
Trade dress was originally one of the larger points of Apple’s lawsuit win. However, following an appeal by Samsung, the appeals court found the iPhone’s overall look can’t be protected.
Portions of the original decision that were upheld in today’s ruling was Samsung’s general patent infringement when compared with Apple products. Features this includes are pinch and zoom, double tap to zoom, and other features Apple previously patented.
