By Kim Yoo-chul
A Korean judge postponed a decision on the intellectual property battle between Samsung Electronics and Apple over smartphones and touch-screen tablets Friday.
The Seoul Central District Court said the new date of ruling on Aug. 24 and explained the delay was due to ``procedural reasons.’’
``This is an important issue and we will need more time to produce a verdict,’’ the court said in an emailed statement.
The two companies declined to comment on the delay.
Industry observers wonder whether the Korean court is waiting for the results of the trial between the two companies in San Jose, California, and also their courtroom battle in Australia.
``Yes, this is a case where the burden on us is huge,’’ said a court official via telephone.
Apple has been filing lawsuits in several countries complaining that Samsung has been copying the look and feel of iPhones and iPads in its Galaxy series of smartphones and touch-screen tablets. Samsung has been countering with lawsuits of its own claiming that Apple has been infringing on its wireless technology patents.
The battle between Samsung and Apple here has developed into a proxy war between the country’s top law firms.
Samsung is represented by Gwangjang and Yulchon, while Apple has hired Kim & Chang, the country’s biggest law firm. Samsung is seeking a ban on Apple’s iPhones and iPads, while Apple is also asking the local court to ban the sale of Samsung’s devices.
``Financial damages really don’t matter. A decision by the local court will be used as a reference by courts in the United States, Australia and others, which Samsung and Apple are fighting. If Samsung loses the ruling in Korea, then that’s a disaster for it,’’ said one lawyer by telephone, who is involved with the matter.