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Apple tells Supreme Court that Samsung case is 'legally unexceptional'

The giant doesn't want the court to examine its patent win against Samsung and "prolong" the battle.

Shara Tibken Former managing editor
Shara Tibken was a managing editor at CNET News, overseeing a team covering tech policy, EU tech, mobile and the digital divide. She previously covered mobile as a senior reporter at CNET and also wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. Shara is a native Midwesterner who still prefers "pop" over "soda."
Shara Tibken
2 min read

Apple successfully argued during a 2012 trial that Samsung infringed its patents.

Vicki Behringer

Apple sure isn't impressed by Samsung's Supreme Court plea.

On Thursday, the iPhone maker filed its response to Samsung's request for the US Supreme Court to examine the patent infringement suit between the two electronics giants. And shocker, it doesn't want this thing to drag out.

Apple argued that the case is "legally unexceptional" and asked the court not to "prolong" the battle against Samsung. It also said the case doesn't present a question that's important enough to require resolution by the nation's highest court.

"Samsung had its day in court -- many days, in fact -- and the properly instructed jury was well justified in finding that Samsung copied Apple's designs and should pay the damages that the statute expressly authorizes," Apple's filing said.

In mid-December, Samsung filed a request with the Supreme Court asking it to re-examine the decision. The trial, which ended in 2012, cast a light on the design of some of the world's most popular phones and resulted in Samsung ultimately having to pay Apple $548 million.

A Supreme Court review of the case could potentially redefine design patents and limit patent trolls from cashing in on intellectual property. The case has drawn the attention of dozens of legal experts, nonprofit organizations and technology companies, which together filed six amicus, or "friend of the court," briefs in support of Samsung, urging the Supreme Court to consider the case.

If the Supreme Court decides to take the case, its eventual decision could also have a ripple effect on the technology industry and the kinds of gadgets you'll be able to buy. Samsung and some of Silicon Valley's biggest players have argued that the lower-court ruling as it stands may have a devastating impact on the introduction of new products, because of a heightened fear of legal challenges. Apple said it was doing what was necessary to defend its intellectual property and the value of its blockbuster iPhone franchise.

Samsung said in a statement Thursday that Apple "stands alone" in opposing a Supreme Court review of the case.

"If the legal precedent in this case stands, innovation could be diminished, competition could be stifled and opportunistic lawsuits could have negative effects throughout the US economy," the company said.

Foss Patents earlier reported on Apple's court filing.