| Mobile Minute: In another sign that the smartphone patent wars may be moving towards a ceasefire, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has ruled that parts of one of Apple’s key patents are invalid. Apple had patented a way of “auto-correcting” words that are typed in a text message, and earlier this year a California court found that Samsung had infringed that patent. Now it doesn’t matter, because key parts of the patent have been ruled invalid. The finding that Samsung had infringed Apple’s auto-correct patent was part of the judgment against Samsung handed down earlier this year. Total damages were $119 million, far below the $2 billion that Apple wanted, and now it looks like even that could be reduced based on this week’s development. While huge patent infringement awards appear to be on the decline, courts may soon find themselves faced with a different kind of patent lawsuit. Last week Microsoft sued Samsung in New York, claiming that the the smartphone giant was late with a payment due based on the two companies cross-licensing agreement. Microsoft is thought to earn more money from licensing IP to Android phone makers than from selling Windows phones. |
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Apple patent rejected (RCR Mobile Minute)
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