Apple Imports NOT Banned In the US

   That’s a relief to all the Apple fans out there that the trade body’s decision to ban Apple products was vetoed by the government. This ban could have meant that some Apple products like the iPhones and iPads would not have been allowed to get imported to the US and sold here. The reason for the ban was that, the standards set by the Standards Developing Organizations (SDO) have incorporated some technical advances that are subject to the commission’s determination. This statement means that the patent owners could pose potential harms to offer licenses. Even the European Union has similar policies that could ban product import and sales in that continent.

    Samsung, the rival of Apple, is not too happy with this decision. It is because, Samsung has been negotiated to take up a license but Apple remains without one. This veto, that comes as a surprise after almost 25 years,  doesn’t stop the legal battle between the two electronics giants.  The veto was necessary as there are many companies that are supporters of Apple, like the AT&T. Even if the ban were to be implemented, Apple would somehow handle the situation and make way out of it, some researchers said. However, an Apple spokeswoman said that, “Samsung was wrong to abuse the patent system in this way”.

   The Apple products that were banned were the iPhone 4 and some variations of the iPad 2, as they violated some patent held by Samsung. The iPhone 4 is the older model of the Apple phone that is being sold even today. This legal battle between Apple and Samsung has been going on ever since Apple sued Samsung that some features of the Android phone copy that of the iPhone’s. Last year, Samsung was asked to pay Apple one billion dollars for the patent infringement, but the amount was later reduced to 450 million. This trial is not settled, as is awaiting a rematch in the court.

   It would have been impossible for the government to ban the single most taxpayer in the country. Yes, Apple pays huge taxes in the US. But Samsung is the largest seller of smartphones here. It outsells Apple by almost double the amount. However, the profit made by the latter is still huge. Why- Apple phones are more expensive and reliable. Like they say,  ‘once an Apple customer, always an Apple customer’.