The USITC this June gave a decision in favour of Samsung and ordered Apple to stop importing select iPhone and iPad models to sell in the United States. The ban was supposed to go in effect this week but the US Trade Representative, who’s been given the authority by the Obama administration, has disapproved the trade commission’s decision citing this ban will have an “effect on competitive conditions in the US economy and the effect on US consumers.”
The veto as Wall Street Journal points out, is the first to come after the presidential administration had vetoed an ITC decision way back in 1987.
The letter, which you can find it here (PDF) says that despite the veto, Samsung could still fight for the rights in the court.
Needless to say, Samsung isn’t happy with the outcome and gave the following statement to WSJ.
The ITC’s decision correctly recognized that Samsung has been negotiating in good faith and that Apple remains unwilling to take a license.
The next important decision between both the companies is expected on August 9 when ITC will give its final ruling related to Apple’s complaint against Samsung.
Are they also going to veto the one billion dollars Apple took from Samsung? Are they going to sort out the dumb US patent system that leads to this situation? I don’t like these adverse effects of patents whoever it effects, but taking action when only affects Apple looks bad (especially when Apple started this patent war, with completely trivial software patents).