Obama administration overturns Judges ban on Apple products

Drakares

Source

The White House has stepped into a patent war between Apple and Samsung by vetoing a ban on imports of iPads and iPhones in the US.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) in June banned the import or sale of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G distributed by AT&T Inc, saying the devices infringed a patent owned by the South Korean electronics giant.

But US Trade Representative Michael Froman vetoed the ban, saying his decision was in part based on its "effect on competitive conditions in the US economy and the effect on US consumers".

The decision marks a setback for the South Korean electronics company. However, Mr Froman said Samsung could continue to pursue its case through the courts.

Apple
The decision, dealing a blow to Samsung, was welcomed by Apple
It is the first time since 1987 that a US administration has vetoed a product ban ordered by the trade panel.

Samsung said it was "disappointed" at the lifting of the ban.

"The ITC's decision correctly recognised that Samsung has been negotiating in good faith and that Apple remains unwilling to take a licence," it said in a statement.

Apple welcomed the news and applauded the administration "for standing up for innovation".

It added: "Samsung was wrong to abuse the patent system in this way."

Last sentence made me LOL. Fúck off, Apple are the biggest jokers on Earth when it comes to Patents. This statement coming from a company that tried to patent digital resales among other absurd things is a joke.

Also, less and less respect for Obama, just goes to show it's who you know. Had it been the other way around I doubt there'd have been much action taken.

Makes me sick.

SpaceTime

Hardly surprising.

They're one of the most profitable companies in the USA. It's hardly going to shoot itself in the foot using its own courts. That's more like something the EU would do.

The patent trolling needs to stop though. It's rapidly becoming hugely problematic right across the ICT sector.

Frank Lee Midere

Drakares wrote: »

Source



Last sentence made me LOL. Fúck off, Apple are the biggest jokers on Earth when it comes to Patents. This statement coming from a company that tried to patent digital resales among other absurd things is a joke.

Also, less and less respect for Obama, just goes to show it's who you know. Had it been the other way around I doubt there'd have been much action taken.

Makes me sick.

Of course not. It's an American company.

Apple is no more a patent troll than anyone else, it just gets the angries attention more.

I bet if a Samsung ban based on an Apple patent were imminent you would have a different view. Nearly all American companies lobbied against the ban arguing Samsung was misusing Frand, and opposing the precedent.

Riddle101

Apple is a very big and successful American company, Samsung is not. I would say favoritism, is at play here. But it's down to profit at the end of the day. Apple being very profitable means money for the US economy. It even mentions it in the article somewhat "effect on competitive conditions in the US economy and the effect on US consumers". It's pretty understandable even if it does come off as unfair for Samsung.

UCDVet

USA.....lol

They could raise taxes, invade countries, violate human rights, send SWAT teams to invade homes in the middle of the night, get the address wrong, shoot the family dog, and American's aren't going to care.

But if they couldn't buy the newest iPad - I swear to God - they would have a revolution. American's would take the streets over that crap.

YE CAN TAKE OUR LIVVESSSSS.......BUT YE CAN NEVER TAKE.....OUR IPADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wes

Pretty straight forward example of protectionism by Obama, and I am sure he will be back to harping on about the free market when it suits. Apple were happy to use the patent system when it suited them, but when someone gives them a taste of there own medicine, the government comes to the rescue.

mad muffin

If I had to choose between Apple corporate or Samsung I'd choose Apple every time.