While a federal judge in California has denied Apple's request to increase monetary damages against tech rival Samsung for copyright infringement, she put off a decision on Samsung's request to have the damages lowered by $600 billion.
"Samsung has also moved for remittitur or a new trial on damages. These claims will be addressed in a separate order," wrote Judge Lucy Koh of the Northern District of California.
Koh doesn't mention a reduction in damages, either positively or negatively, in the rest of the 40-page verdict, nor did she give any clue as to when the companies could expect her to rule on the request.
In August, a jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages from Samsung for copyright infringement. In this order, Koh ruled the infringement wasn't "willful" on Samsung's part, which could have tripled the damage award.
For its part, Samsung asked for a new trial, which Koh denied, as well as a reevaluation of the original $1.05 billion damage assessment. Lawyers and pundits speculate she could drop the damages substantially.
But for the most part, Koh upheld the jury verdict from August, so it might be that she feels the numbers the jury came up with are valid and appropriate.
"Given that Apple has not clearly shown how it has in fact been undercompensated for the losses it has suffered due to Samsung's dilution of its trade dress, this Court, in its discretion, does not find a damages enhancement to be appropriate," wrote Koh in the ruling.
And if Apple hasn't been undercompensated, perhaps Samsung can make a case that Apple has been overcompensated, and therefore, a damage reduction is in order. Time will tell.
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