US: Samsung import ban occurs at midnight

As the result of a battle between tech rivals Samsung and Apple over patents, reports say the US Trade Representative’s office implemented the import ban on some Samsung products found to have infringed on Apple products at midnight Tuesday night.

The two rivals have fought over patents and highlighted a national and often global debate about the effects of patent litigation on innovation and competition.

The import ban comes as a ruling by the US International Trade Commission, which found some Samsung products made by the South Korean firm to infringe on Apple patents. Trade Representative Michael Froman declined to overturn the ruling.

Froman’s acceptance of the ban raised eyebrows as last August he overturned an import ban on Apple products found to infringe on Samsung patents.

The import ban affects older models of digital mobile devices; newer editions do not infringe on Apple patents, say reports.

Full Content: Reuters

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.