Apple filed a lawsuit alleging that Samsung infringed on its multitouch patent with the Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets but, according to Reuters, the Dutch court hearing the case has sided with Samsung, ruling that Samsung does not infringe on Apple’s patent.
Despite Apple having a big win over the summer in the ongoing patent dispute with Samsung, the two companies are still locked in patent disputes in 10 countries. In September, Apple went to the Hague court arguing Samsung infringed on its multitouch patent that lets users use two fingers at one time on a touchscreen.
This isn’t the first time Apple has taken Samsung and other companies to court over this “pinch to zoom” patent, which is a function often seen on smartphones and tablets. Apple lost a preliminary injunction on this patent in the Dutch courts last years as well, and lost again in Britain against HTC. Apple also lost in Germany against Samsung and Google-owned Motorola Mobility.
This time, the Dutch court acknowledged that the multitouch patent ruling was similar to those in Britain and Germany. “With these products Samsung does not infringe the claims that Apple has made,” the court said in its ruling.
This marks another loss in a series of losses for Apple lately. Just yesterday the U.S. patent office invalidated the rubber-band patent that was part of Apple’s win against Samsung over the summer. In the UK, Apple has been ordered to issue a public apology to Samsung. Samsung has expressed that it is satisfied with this ruling in the Dutch court, but Apple was not available for comment.
Image Credit: Android Authority
