US ITC to review Apple's patent case against Samsung

THE UNITED STATES International Trade Commission (ITC) said on Wednesday that it will review the decision that a number of Samsung smartphones infringe Apple patents.

In a statement the US trade regulator said that it will review the case "in its entirety", although it has also ordered a judge to take a look at two specific sections of the case where it ruled that Samsung infringed two patents in October 2012.

One of the patents in question allows the use of a headset with a smartphone while the other allows the device to show an image on a screen with a second, translucent image over the top, Bloomberg reports.

In its complaint filed in 2011, Apple accused Samsung of infringing these patents in over a dozen products, including the Galaxy S2 smartphone and Galaxy Tab tablet.

The ITC said, "Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined to review in its entirety the final initial determination issued by the presiding administrative law judge on October 24, 2012, finding a violation of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. § 1337, in this investigation."

Samsung spokesperson Adam Yates said to Bloomberg, "We remain confident that the full commission will ultimately reach a final determination that affirms our position."

Apple has yet to respond to our request for comment.

The ITC's review means that a final decision, originally scheduled for 27 March, will now be pushed back until a later date. µ