The long-standing Apple vs. Samsung patent dispute has been dragging on for five years now without any meaningful resolution in sight, despite Samsung announcing a settlement payment of $548 million to the iPhone maker today.
According to patent blog FOSS Patents, even though the Galaxy maker will send the payment to Apple by December 14 it’s found a loophole that would give it the right to seek reimbursement of all amounts required to be paid as taxes, and then some more.
Samsung is now “waiting for Apple’s original invoice, and if that payment arrives before the weekend by Korean time,” writes FOSS Patents.
After it physically receives money from Samsung, the more than half a billion dollars may not necessarily stay on Apple’s bank account forever.
As mentioned, Samsung thinks it’s entitled to obtain reimbursement “in the event the partial judgment is reversed, modified, vacated or set aside on appeal or otherwise, including as a result of any proceedings before the USPTO addressing the patents at issue or as a result of any petition for writ of certiorari filed with the Supreme Court.”
Apple, of course, is disputing Samsung’s right to seek reimbursement.
The filing notes that a settlement conference that took place on November 2, 2015 “did not result in settlement,” meaning this never-ending legal battle could drag on for a few more years until all legal actions are exhausted.
Making matter even more complicated, USPTO has invalidated one of Apple’s iPhone design patents and the pinch-to-zoom invention, but Apple is appealing that decision.
Comic via Joy of Tech.
Source: FOSS Patents