Samsung is off the hook in another patent dispute against Apple (News - Alert), but it's not a victory to be too proud of, as the ruling comes on Samsung's home turf. Judges in Seoul, South Korea ruled that Samsung did not copy the look and feel of Apple's iPhone (News - Alert). Instead, the judges ruled that Apple infringed on Samsung's wireless technology. (You can't make this stuff up.)

Not everything went Samsung's way, however. In a split decision on patents, the panel of judges also said Samsung (News - Alert) violated Apple technology behind the bounce-back feature when scrolling on touchscreens, and ordered both sides to pay limited damages, according to a report from the Associated Press (News - Alert).


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The Seoul Central District Court ruling called for a partial ban on sales of products including iPads and smartphones from both companies, though the verdict did not affect the two company's latest-generation of phones: Apple's iPhone 4S and Samsung's Galaxy S3. However, Apple must remove its iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad 1 and iPad 2 from store shelves in South Korea.

“This is basically Samsung's victory on its home territory,” patent attorney, Jeong Woo-sung told the Associated Press.

Adding, “Out of nine countries, Samsung got the ruling that it wanted for the first time in South Korea.”

It's important to note, however, that this ruling affects only the market in South Korea, so Samsung is only mildly off the hook. In the U.S., one of the largest markets for both companies, Apple is still suing Samsung for $2.5 billion over allegations that its Galaxy smartphones and tablets are essentially “illegal knockoffs” of iPhones and iPads.

Want to learn more about patents in the telecom industry? Then be sure to attend Synopsis Under IP/Patents Telecom Sourcing Conference (SUITS), collocated with ITEXPO West 2012 taking place Oct. 2-5, in Austin, TX.   Stay in touch with everything happening at SUITS.  Follow us on Twitter.