About two months ago, the US International Trade Commission ruled that Apple’s iPhone 4 and 3G iPad 2 were infringing upon a Samsung wireless 3G patent, and ruled an import ban on the devices. Well, the ban didn’t last, as Barack Obama vetoed it at the end of his 60-day review period, specifying that since the patent in question comes under FRAND, the ban is an unfit punishment.
While on the face of it Apple seems to be the winner here, I’m personally in favor of the decision. Monetarily, the ban was never going to hurt Apple that much, and while various Android devices have suffered due to injunctions in the past, a precedent has been set for the long run.
This patent and injunction craziness had to stop somewhere, hopefully this veto is that point.
