Google Finally Reacts to Apple's $1.05 Billion Patent Victory Over Samsung
08/27/2012 | Paul Lilly


Apple scored over a billion dollars in damages from Samsung in what can be considered a sweeping victory over patent infringement claims in the U.S. and was quick to gloat. In a statement provided to The New York Times, Apple spokeswoman Katie Cotton said her company was "grateful to the jury" that found Samsung guilty of ripping off the look and feel of iPhone and iPad devices. Samsung also provided a statement, saying the "verdict should not be viewed as a win for Apple, but as a loss for the American consumer." Google, meanwhile, was eerily quiet in the aftermath of the trial, until now.

"The court of appeals will review both infringement and the validity of the patent claims," Google said in a statement, according to The Verge. "Most of these don't relate to the core Android operating system, and several are being re-examined by the U.S. Patent Office. The mobile industry is moving fast and all players -- including newcomers -- are building upon ideas that have been around for decades. We work with our partners to give consumers innovative and affordable products, and we don't want anything to limit that."

It took a nine panel jury less than three days to deliberate and find Samsung guilty of infringing on several Apple-owned patents in what had been a highly publicized and contentious court case. The ramifications of Samsung losing as badly as it did could affect the Android ecosystem as a whole, which is why many were waiting for Google to weigh in on the matter. It finally has, and you can interpret the company's statement in a number of ways. Kara Swisher at Alll Things D, for example, read the statement as, 'Good lord, let's hope Samsung wins on appeal, because if Apple prevails, it might be coming for us next.'

While all this is going on, Microsoft is sitting on the sidelines getting a good laugh.

"Windows Phone is looking gooooood right now, " Bill Cox, marketing director for Microsoft's Windows Phone Division, posted to Twitter.