Samsung patent review could save Apple from paying $532.9 million in damages to Smartflash

Samsung has asked the USPTO to review a couple of patents owned by patent troll Smartflash to see if they are valid. The latter is taking Samsung to court claiming that the manufacturer infringed on patents related to accessing digital data by using payment systems. Samsung just might get a ruling in its favor. A preliminary decision by a patent agency review board found that the patents were invalid since they covered abstract concepts instead of definite inventions.

If the USPTO follows suit, not only will Samsung be spared the expense of a patent infringement trial, Apple will also benefit to the tune of $532.9 million. That is the amount of money that Smartflash was awarded in February by a court that found that Apple's iAd, iOS, the iTunes Store, and the Mac and iOS App Stores had infringed on Smartflash's patents.

Both Apple and Samsung have been accused of infringing on six Smartflash patents. Apple and Samsung together have successfully petitioned for a review of five of the patents by the USPTO while a sixth review (asked for by Samsung) is still pending.

Apple is looking to stall writing out that $532.9 million check since it will be harder to get back once paid. In Samsung's case, it is hoping to avoid having to face-off against Smartflash in a trial that is scheduled to begin in August.

source: Bloomberg

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