A UK court has handed Apple another win against Samsung regarding standards-essential patents. Judge Christopher Floyd ruled on Wednesday that Apple's mobile products do not infringe on Samsung's patents on 3G wireless networking, likely dashing Samsung's hopes of receiving royalties on such patents in the EU.
The decision is just one of many that have occurred around the globe between Apple and Samsung. And Samsung's attempts to assert patents that are considered "essential" to 3G standards have been controversial. Last year, the European Commission said it had begun investigating Samsung for trying to use its patents against competitors—which it agreed to license on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
Still, Samsung tried to pursue this same strategy in the US last year, demanding up to $399 million for Apple's alleged violations (based on a 2-to-2.75 percent royalty per device), but Apple pushed back by arguing other companies would not consider Samsung's demands to be "reasonable." Judge Floyd apparently agreed, ruling in London that Samsung's infringement claims were invalid.
"We are disappointed by the court's decision. Upon a thorough review of the judgment, we will decide whether to file an appeal," a Samsung spokesperson said in a statement, according to ZDNet. "For decades, we have heavily invested in pioneering the development of technological innovations in the mobile industry, which have been constantly reflected in our products."
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