ITC Rules in Favor of Apple, Older Samsung Products Facing Ban

The U.S. International Trade Commission today ordered an import ban against some Samsung products after finding that the company did infringe on two key Apple patents. The patents include the "Steve Jobs patent" that pertains to touchscreen technology and a patent that detects when a headset is plugged into a device.

Like the import ban that was levied against Apple and later vetoed, Samsung's import ban will take place after a 60-day Presidential review period. It is unlikely that Samsung will get the same presidential intervention, however, as Samsung's patent violations do not involve standard-essential patents. According to AllThingsD, Apple praised the court's decision.

"With today's decision, the ITC has joined courts around the world in Japan, Korea, Germany, Netherlands and California by standing up for innovation and rejecting Samsung's blatant copying of Apple's products," Apple said. "Protecting real innovation is what the patent system should be about."

This particular Apple vs. Samsung case began back in mid–2011, after Apple asked the ITC to investigate whether the South Korean company had infringed on a number of different patents. In addition to taking their case to the ITC, Samsung and Apple have fought in numerous courtrooms around the world since their dispute began.

The two have a number of other court battles coming in the months ahead, including an upcoming trial in November that will redetermine a portion of the damages that Samsung must pay Apple.