Tech Heavyweights Support Samsung In SCOTUS IP Case

In a case that could upend design patents in the U.S., Silicon Valley heavyweights like Google, Facebook, Dell, eBay, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and HP have voiced their support for Samsung over rival Apple. The tech giants have filed amicus briefs urging the Supreme Court to reconsider how the U.S. defines design patents, and to limit the damages that can be awarded. In mid-December, Samsung asked the Supreme Court to weigh in on its patent infringement case against Apple. The trial, which ended in 2012, saddled Samsung with $548 in damages to Apple over infringement on smartphone designs.