Samsung Electronics Co did not infringe on a
smartphone and tablet computer patent held by Apple Inc, the Tokyo
District Court ruled Friday.
Apple, the US maker of iPhones and iPads, sued the South Korean
technology giant in Tokyo last year, seeking 100 million yen (1.27
million dollars) in damages.
Apple claimed some of Samsung's Galaxy smartphones and tablets
infringe on an Apple patent related to the synchronization of
computers and eight portable devices, which are sold in Japan by KDDI
Corp and NTT Docomo Inc, the nation's biggest mobile phone company.
Shares in NTT Docomo closed down 2.13 per cent Friday while KDDI
fell 0.88 per cent.
The ruling came a week after a California jury awarded US-based
Apple more than 1.05 billion dollars in another patent infringement
case against its South Korean rival.
The nine-member jury at a federal court in San Jose found that
Samsung had infringed on six of seven smartphone patents in question.
Apple asked a California judge on Monday to ban the sale of eight
Samsung devices, including the South Korean company's best-selling
Galaxy smartphones.
On August 24, the Seoul Central District Court ruled both
companies infringed upon each other's patents and ordered a ban on
sales in South Korea of some mobile devices by the two companies.
The cases are part of a four-continent intellectual property
battle by the two firms for dominance of the lucrative smartphone and
tablet markets.
