Judge finds Samsung infringed four Apple patents

Preliminary ruling finds Samsung guilty on four counts of IP infringement, but cleared of two others

A preliminary ruling in the US has found that Samsung infringed four of Apple's intellectual property patents.

According to a Reuters report, Judge Thomas Pender said that Samsung infringed four Apple patents, but did not violate two others listed in the compliant. Seven had been listed initially, but one was dropped during litigation.

The full International Trade Commission will make a final call on the judge's preliminary ruling in February.

Patents infringed, according to the judge, include one that helps interpret what a user wants to do on the touchscreen device, and one based around image display capabilities.

The ruling is a second victory for Apple over its biggest rival, after it was awarded $1bn in August.

Both vendors are locked in a bitter smartphone patent battle across 10 countries, and Apple is looking to get a total of 21 Samsung products banned from sale in the US, including the firm's flagship Galaxy handset.

Last month Apple piled on more pressure, seeking a further $400m damages including: $135m for 'wilful infringement' of its utility patents, $121m in supplemental damages based on sales not covered during the jury's deliberation, and $50m of prejudgement interest on damages.