The US patent office has waded into the long running legal spat between Apple and Samsung by stating that Apple’s ‘pinch to zoom’ patent used on its iPhone and iPad touchscreens on the grounds that prior patents had already covered the innovation.
This rejection deals a crippling blow to Apple’s ongoing £600k damages claim against Samsung after the South Korean rival was found to have infringed on this patent (and five others) earlier this year.
Samsung is currently petitioning for a new trial and for the amount of damages to be cut.
Apple is expected to appeal the new ruling however, meaning that the patent is technically still in force.