Samsung claims innovation high ground in wake of Apple trial result

While Apple’s lawyers and top brass are likely still to wake up from their victory hangovers, Samsung’s still standing pretty much where it was going “but, but, but…”

After a US jury found in favour of Apple in a patent trial between the two companies, Samsung has released details of an internal memo claiming that it is the one pushing innovation over litigation.

In the memo, the Korean company, which got hit to the tune of US$1-billion in the trial verdict, says its US rival’s “primary means to competition has been the outright abuse of patent law, not the pursuit of innovation.”

While the two companies have engaged in a series of back and forth patent trials around the globe, Samsung claims that Apple has been the main instigator behind the battles. Sounds kind of like two kids trying blame each other for starting a fight after being hauled in front of a teacher doesn’t it?

The contents of the memo suggest that the company is certainly aware of how damaging the result of the trial could be for its business. Indeed, Samsung stock was down seven percent after morning trading in Korea.

Here’s the memo in full:

We initially proposed to negotiate with Apple instead of going to court, as they had been one of our most important customers. However, Apple pressed on with a lawsuit, and we have had little choice but to counter-sue, so that we can protect our company.

Certainly, we are very disappointed by the verdict at the US District Court for the Northern District of California (NDCA), and it is regrettable that the verdict has caused concern amongst our employees, as well as our loyal customers.

However, the judge’s final ruling remains, along with a number of other procedures. We will continue to do our utmost until our arguments have been accepted.

The NDCA verdict starkly contrasts decisions made by courts in a number of other countries, such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and Korea, which have previously ruled that we did not copy Apple’s designs. These courts also recognized our arguments concerning our standards patents.

History has shown there has yet to be a company that has won the hearts and minds of consumers and achieved continuous growth, when its primary means to competition has been the outright abuse of patent law, not the pursuit of innovation.

We trust that the consumers and the market will side with those who prioritize innovation over litigation, and we will prove this beyond doubt.

Unlike Tim Cook’s memo to Apple’s employees, which was very much more brash and chest-thumping in nature, Samsung’s memo has much more of a “hearts and minds” feel about it.

Apple’s preliminary US injunction against Samsung, which could stop it from selling products that violate Apple patents in the US, is scheduled to begin on 20 September.