The Obama administration has vetoed a decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission to ban the import of certain Apple products to the U.S. on the grounds they infringed a Samsung Electronics technology patent.
In its decision Saturday, the administration said banning the products, which include older models of the iPhone and iPad, would be against the U.S. public interest. It cited concerns that patents essential to implementing technology standards, or so-called standards essential patents (SEPs), can be used to harm competition.
"Licensing SEPs on [fair and reasonable terms] is an important element of the Administration's policy of promoting innovation and economic progress and reflects the positive linkages between patent rights and standards setting," the administration's trade representative, Michael Froman, wrote in his decision.
The ruling will be a setback for Samsung, which is engaged in a broad, worldwide legal battle with Apple in which both companies accuse the other of using their patented technologies without a license. Samsung could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday.
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