Tokyo court rejects Apple patent claim against Samsung

A Japanese court Friday rejected Apple's claim that South Korean rival Samsung stole the US firm's technology for its own products, the latest ruling in a global patent battle between the tech giants. The Tokyo District Court ruled that Samsung did not infringe on Apple's patents on its iPhone and iPad computer for some of its own Galaxy smartphones and tablet computer. The three-judge panel also awarded legal costs to Samsung. "The defendant's products do not seem like they used the same technology as the plaintiff's products so we turn down the complaints made by (Apple)," Judge Tamotsu Shoji told the court. The decision comes a week after the iPhone maker won more than $1.0 billion in a massive US court victory over Samsung with jurors finding that the South Korean firm had "willfully" infringed on Apple's patents. Apple was seeking 100 million yen ($1.27 million) in compensation from Samsung's Japanese units, and had accused it of stealing technology used to transfer music and video files.  Samsung has steadfastly denied its rival's claims in a string of similar cases filed across the globe. The high-profile verdict in the United States last week affects patents on a range of Samsung products including some of its popular smartphones and its Galaxy 10 tablet. Jurors rejected the South Korean electronics firm's patent theft counterclaims against Apple. Samsung has pledged to keep fighting the case, and said that if it stands "it will lead to fewer choices, less innovation, and potentially higher prices".