Apple Wins Appeal in 'Slide to Unlock' Case, $119.6 Million Award Reinstated

Apple has won an appeal court ruling reinstating a verdict that found Samsung guilty of patent infringement, reports Bloomberg.

In an 8-3 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said a three-judge panel was wrong to throw out the $119.6 million verdict in February. Instead, it ordered the trial judge to consider whether the judgment should be increased based on any intentional infringement by Samsung.

Apple had accused Samsung of infringing patents for slide to unlock, autocorrect, and a method of detecting phone numbers for tap to call functionality. $98.7 million of the award was for the detection patent.


While an earlier panel said that patent wasn't infringed, the appeals court said that decision was wrong because it relied on issues that were never raised on appeal or on information that was beyond the trial record.

"The jury verdict on each issue is supported by substantial evidence in the record," wrote Circuit Judge Kimberly Moore.

The decision comes with Samsung about to face Apple in court again as the U.S. Supreme Court will consider how much Samsung should pay for copying Apple's iPhone design.

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