Samsung was found guilty of infringing on Apple’s patents yesterday and the jury declared they must pay damages totalling $1,049,393,540. Statements by both companies were released, clearly one very upset and disturbed, while the other incredibly pleased that the law is working to protect innovation.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, internal note to employees has now leaked online and he’s showing his enthusiasm for the verdict. Cook wrote some incredibly bold words, especially for one of their major manufacturing suppliers: “values have won and I hope the whole world listens;” and “Samsung’s copying went far deeper than we knew.” The full note is below:
Today was an important day for Apple and for innovators everywhere.
Many of you have been closely following the trial against Samsung in San Jose for the past few weeks. We chose legal action very reluctantly and only after repeatedly asking Samsung to stop copying our work. For us this lawsuit has always been about something much more important than patents or money. It’s about values. We value originality and innovation and pour our lives into making the best products on earth. And we do this to delight our customers, not for competitors to flagrantly copy.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the jury who invested their time in listening to our story. We were thrilled to finally have the opportunity to tell it. The mountain of evidence presented during the trial showed that Samsung’s copying went far deeper than we knew.
The jury has now spoken. We applaud them for finding Samsung’s behavior willful and for sending a loud and clear message that stealing isn’t right.
I am very proud of the work that each of you do.
Today, values have won and I hope the whole world listens.
Tim
Source: 9to5Mac
