“A federal court in Texas has ordered a new trial on damages in a patent infringement dispute between Apple and Smartflash that could modify an earlier $533 million damages award to the patent-licensing company,” John Ribeiro reports for IDG News Service.
“District Judge Rodney Gilstrap of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler division, ruled Tuesday that the earlier damages were set aside and vacated as the trial jury may not have been properly instructed,” Ribeiro reports. “Smartflash sued Apple in May 2013, alleging that iTunes software infringed on its patents related to serving data and managing access to data. A jury found in February that Apple infringed three Smartflash patents in order to produce and sell its iTunes software.”
“Gilstrap wrote Tuesday that he expects a new damages model from Smartflash in view of concerns about the model it used at the last trial,” Ribeiro reports. “The judge ruled earlier this month that Apple’s infringement was not willful.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: So much for the rocket docket’s speed and efficiency.
SEE ALSO:
On heels of $532.9 million verdict, Apple hit with second lawsuit from Smartflash – February 27, 2015
Apple plays the odds for overturning rocket docket’s $533 million verdict – February 26, 2015
Rocket docket jury orders Apple ordered to pay $532.9 million in patent trial; Apple to appeal – February 25, 2015
East Texas needs to secede.
Maybe the drinking water in that area is tainted? Seems like Stupid is the after effect of the contaminated water.
The water is contaminated with something called Samsung.
Interesting that the judge doesn’t deny that Apple infringed.. Just that it was not willful so the damages should be somewhat lower. The difference really depends on how the jury considered the award. As a light slap or heavy handed punishment.