Korean Court Rejects Samsung Lawsuit Against Apple

The ruling, by the Seoul Central District Court, is the latest twist in a global patent fight between the two companies, which dominate the smartphone and tablet businesses. For Samsung, the setback on its home turf follows a legal victory last year, when the court in Seoul, the South Korean capital, ruled that Apple had infringed on other Samsung patents.

In the decision Thursday, the court said Apple had not infringed on Samsung patents relating to mobile messaging technology. It rejected Samsung’s claim for 100 million won, or $95,000, in damages and a ban on sales in South Korea of older iPhone and iPad models.

“We are glad the Korean court joined others around the world in standing up for real innovation and rejecting Samsung’s ridiculous claims,” Apple said in a statement.

Samsung said it would not back down in its disputes with Apple.

“We are disappointed by the court’s decision,” Samsung said in a statement. “As Apple has continued to infringe our patented mobile technologies, we will continue to take the measures necessary to protect our intellectual property rights.”

In a patent case in the United States, a jury in San Jose, California, ruled last month that Samsung should pay Apple an additional $290 million in damages, on top of previous awards.

But Samsung has also scored legal victories in some countries, like Germany, where a court in the city of Mannheim dismissed an Apple patent claim against Samsung on Wednesday.

Separately, the Obama administration recently upheld a ban on the sale of certain Samsung mobile devices in the United States, which had been ordered by the United States International Trade Commission. Previously, the administration had vetoed a commission order to ban the sale of some Apple products.