Apple CEO Tim Cook Says 'Values Have Won' in Leaked Memo to Employees

Apple chief executive Tim Cook, who has been in charge of the Cupertino-based technology giant for one year, has sent an email to company employees saying "values have won", following Apple's victory over Samsung in a US patent trial.

Cook thanked the jury for "finding Samsung's behaviour wilful and for sending a loud and clear message that stealing isn't right."

The text of the internal memo, which was obtained by 9to5mac, follows below:

"Today was an important day for Apple and for innovators everywhere.

"Many of you have been closely following the trial against Samsung in San Jose for the past few weeks. We chose legal action very reluctantly and only after repeatedly asking Samsung to stop copying our work. For us this lawsuit has always been about something much more important than patents or money. It's about values. We value originality and innovation and pour our lives into making the best products on earth. And we do this to delight our customers, not for competitors to flagrantly copy.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to the jury who invested their time in listening to our story. We were thrilled to finally have the opportunity to tell it. The mountain of evidence presented during the trial showed that Samsung's copying went far deeper than we knew.

"The jury has now spoken. We applaud them for finding Samsung's behaviour wilful and for sending a loud and clear message that stealing isn't right.

"I am very proud of the work that each of you do.

"Today, values have won and I hope the whole world listens.

Tim"