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Apple loses Samsung patent case in Japan

Apple loses Samsung patent case in Japan

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A Tokyo court has ruled that Samsung did not infringe an Apple patent related to data syncing.

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iphone happily sitting in bento
iphone happily sitting in bento

Samsung may have lost its war with Apple in California, but it's winning small battles elsewhere. Following the company's recent victory in its home nation of South Korea, a Tokyo court has ruled in its favor in Japan. The Nikkei reports that Apple's case dealt with a patent covering the syncing of media files between devices, and eight Galaxy products sold by NTT Docomo and KDDI were alleged to have infringed.

Apple was seeking ¥100 million (about $1.275 million) in damages and an injunction against sales, but the judge ultimately found in Samsung's favor after the company argued it was using different technology. It's a minor step in the two companies' global dispute, but it underlines the fact that neither side is likely to lay down for a long time.

Samsung provided The Verge with the following statement:

We welcome the court's decision, which confirmed our long-held position that our products do not infringe Apple's intellectual property. We will continue to offer highly innovative products to consumers, and continue our contributions towards the mobile industry's development.