In our latest Bulldog wrapup of technology news:

  • An appeals court backs Apple in its suit against Samsung
  • Google prevails in free speech case;
  • Startup Royalty Exchange eyes sale or possible shutdown
  • IBM claims no tax credits in N.C.
  • A Triangle startup rethinks awards

The details:

  • Court agrees Samsung copied Apple, but reduces damage award

A federal appeals court has agreed that Samsung illegally copied some of the patented features in Apple’s iPhone. But the court sided with Samsung on one point in a long-running dispute, which means the South Korean company may end up paying less than the $930 million in damages originally awarded in the case.

The appellate court upheld most of the conclusions reached by a federal jury in California, after a closely watched trial in 2012. Apple had complained that Samsung smartphones copied the iPhone and infringed on Apple’s technology patents.

But the appeals court, based in Washington, D.C., said Monday that Apple can’t claim damages for copying the overall appearance of the iPhone. That could reduce the damage award by about $382 million, according to Samsung’s court filings.

  • Appeals court sides with Google in anti-Muslim film case

In a victory for free speech advocates, a federal appeals court says YouTube should not have been forced to take down an anti-Muslim film that sparked violence in the Middle East and death threats to actors.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling in favor of Google on Monday. The decision comes after free speech advocates urged the court to overturn a 9th Circuit panel’s ruling that ordered YouTube to take down the video.

Actress Cindy Lee Garcia wanted “Innocence of Muslims” removed from the site after receiving death threats. Her lawyer argued she had a copyright claim to the low-budget film because she believed she was acting in a different production.

Google, which owns YouTube, argued Garcia had no claim to the film because the filmmaker wrote the dialogue, managed the production and dubbed over her lines.

It wasn’t immediately clear if or when the video would be reposted on YouTube.

  • Report: Royalty Exchange eyes sale or possible shutdown

Raleigh startup Royalty Exchange, which works with artists and other clients to capitalize on royalty rights, is considering a possible sale or shutdown, according to The News and Observer.

The paper says the founder cited difficulties in raising a new round of funding for the thinking.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article21113550.html#storylink=cpy

  • IBM claims no tax credits in N.C., says newspaper

The Triangle Business Journal is reporting that IBM didn’t claim in tax credits in North Carolina for the first time in more than five years.

The credits were not tied to job creation, the paper noted.

Read more at: http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/techflash/2015/05/ibm-claims-no-nc-tax-credits-2014.html?page=all

  • Startup rethinks rewards

What Groupon did for couponing, a stealthy Durham startup called Yaarlo hopes it can do for rewards, says ExitEvent Editor Laura Baverman.

Yaarlo launched recently on the App Store for Apple and is available as well for Android.

“Yaarlo says it’s the first universal mobile-only rewards platform. By scanning receipts from coffee shops and restaurants, salons, retail stores and the grocery, consumers earn points from their purchases that can be redeemed for cash or a gift card to the store of their choice,” Baverman reports.

Read more at: http://exitevent.com/article/motricity-and-virgin-mobile-exec-launches-yaarlo-150514

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