Samsung can halt Smartflash patent infringement trial: U.S. appeals court

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, which faced a trial on patent infringement in a lawsuit brought by patent holder Smartflash LLC, can halt the proceedings while the Smartflash patents are scrutinized for their validity by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Thursday. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit also declined to stay the Smartflash case against Apple. The iPhone maker lost a $533 million infringement verdict last February to Smartflash, but a lower court judge has ordered a new trial on damages. (Reporting by Andrew Chung)