Microsoft and Nokia to benefit from Apple Samsung ruling

Microsoft and Nokia could benefit from the US court ruling that found Samsung copied Apple’s smartphone and tablet designs, as it could encourage other handset manufacturers using Android to move towards the Windows Phone platform to avoid similar legal battles.

Nokia Lumia

Nokia, which opted for the Windows platform last year after forming a partnerships with Microsoft, saw its shares rise on Friday following the ruling. Its Lumia Windows phone was highlighted by Apple during the case as an example of a smartphone device that looks significantly different to its products.

Microsoft and Nokia are expected to launch the latest Windows 8 phones in the US in September.

Bill Cox, senior director of marketing communications for the Windows Phone Division at Microsoft tweeted on Friday afternoon shortly after the verdict: “Windows Phone is looking gooooood right now.”

Google has said that it hopes the ruling will not “limit” innovation in the mobile market around its Android platform. In a statement, the internet giant said: “The court of appeals will review both infringement and the validity of the patent claims. Most of these don’t relate to the core Android operating system, and several are being re-examined by the US Patent Office.

“The mobile industry is moving fast and all players – including newcomers – are building upon ideas that have been around for decades. We work with our partners to give consumers innovative and affordable products, and we don’t want anything to limit that.”

Samsung, which is the largest manufacturer of Android phones, will appeal the ruling and has already hit out at Apple, calling on consumers to boycott the tech manufacturer. In an internal memo posted on Friday the company said: “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 prioritise innovation over litigation, and we will prove this beyond doubt.”

Apple, meanwhile, has named the eight Samsung devices of which it is seeking sales bans. The Galaxy S 4G, Galaxy S2 AT&T model, Galaxy S2 Skyrocket, Galaxy S2 T-Mobile model, Galaxy S2 Epic 4G, Galaxy S Showcase, Droid Charge and Galaxy Prevail will be at the heart of a hearing due on 20 September.

A US court judged on Friday (24 August) that Samsung must pay Apple $1.05bn in damages. Earlier the same day a court in Samsung’s native Korea ruled that Apple and Samsung had both infringed each other’s patents and ordered both companies to pay damages to the other.

The ruling in California is seen to counter decisions made in courts in other countries including the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Korea, which found that Samsung did not copy Apple designs.

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