South Korean government expresses concerns in a statement over the US government's overturning of the original Apple ruling.
Beijing, August 5th - According to foreign media reports, the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy issued a statement on Monday expressing concerns over the Obama administration's decision last Saturday to overturn a previous international trade ruling against Apple.
On Saturday, the Obama administration overturned a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that had prohibited the importation and sale of certain iPhones and iPads in the United States. This move could potentially boost short-term sales of iPhones and iPads, and further pressure Samsung Electronics in ongoing patent litigation negotiations.
Since April 2011, Apple and Samsung Electronics have been engaged in global patent lawsuits. The Obama administration's veto last Saturday relates to an earlier ruling made by the U.S. International Trade Commission in June this year. At that time, the ITC determined that because Apple infringed on one of Samsung Electronics' patents, older model iPhones and iPads would be banned from being sold in the U.S. market.
The Obama administration’s actions have drawn criticism from South Korean media, who labeled it as "protectionism." In its statement on Monday, the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy expressed "serious concern" that such decisions might negatively impact intellectual property protection.
The South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has already visited the U.S. trade team and the Obama administration, urging them to make a "fair and reasonable decision," especially since Samsung Electronics is facing a trial this Friday where it will be decided whether some of its phones and tablets infringe on Apple's patents, potentially leading to a "sales ban" in the U.S.
Samsung Electronics previously accused Apple of infringing three of its patents, but the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Apple did not violate these patents. A Samsung Electronics spokesperson said on Monday that the company had already appealed the ITC's ruling in July this year.
