Supreme Court to hear Samsung’s appeal over Apple design patent case on Oct. 11

Back in March, the Supreme Court stated that it would hear Samsung’s appeal in the company’s never-ending design patent battle with Apple. While Apple had urged the Supreme Court not to hear the case, saying that Samsung “had its day in court,” it was revealed on the court’s website today that the case will be heard on October 11th. The Supreme Court had initially announced its decision to hear the case in March, but a date was unknown until tonight.

The hearing will center around two patents that Apple has claimed Samsung infringed upon. The long-winded battle seemingly came to an end in December, when it was announced that Apple and Samsung had reached a $548 million settlement. The settlement had a catch, however: Samsung said in its part of the agreement that it reserved the right to reclaim reimbursement should any position of the trial be modified. And that’s what it did when it requested that the Supreme Court hear the case.

Samsung argues that the lower courts misapplied the law concerning Apple’s design patents in two ways. First, Samsung says the judge failed to “properly instruct the jury on the difference between functional and ornamental features.” Secondly, the company argues that the damages awarded were too high.

Last month, the United States Department of Justice filed an amicus brief on behalf of Samsung. The DOJ said that the Supreme Court should overturn the appeals court ruling that was in Apple’s favor and send the case back to the trial court.

While Apple has already received its $548 million from Samsung, the outcome from the Supreme Court hearing could see Apple reimbursing Samsung for part or all of the settlement.

The Apple vs Samsung hearing is slated to be the first of the day on October 11th. We will, of course, have coverage of whatever emerges from the hearing. In the meantime, we’ll have to wait and see if this five-year patent war will ever come to an official end.