Samsung Coutersues Apple over iPhone/iPad Patent Infringements
Samsung Coutersues Apple over iPhone/iPad Patent Infringements
Posted 04/24/2011 at 8:58am
| by Justin Kerr
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When Apple announced it was going to sue Samsung for patent and trademark infringement over its Galaxy lineup of tablets and phones, the tech industry took notice. The reasons for paying attention to this one go far beyond the financial ramifications, Samsung you see is one of Apple’s biggest component suppliers, manufacturing everything from screen to chips which go into the companies growing portfolio of gadgets. Some journalists speculated the lawsuit was just for show, and would settle quickly with a series cross licensing agreements, a trend that is common in the tech sector. This was a sound theory, however a countersuit filed by Samsung on Friday suggests both companies might be in this for the long haul, and business relations could be in jeopardy as a result.
According to the court filings, Samsung claims that both the iPhone and iPad infringe on 10 of their mobile technology patents, and called for immediate action, along with compensation for damages. The patents in question involve methods for reducing power consumption during data transmission, along with various 3G technologies for reducing errors during transmission.
"Samsung is responding actively to the legal action taken against us in order to protect our intellectual property and to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communications business," the statement said.
Countersuits are fairly common in this type of a scenario, and while Samsung may just be using it to pressure Apple into settling the dispute, this very public battle might well have Apple looking for an alternate supplier by the time it’s all over.
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fenixsniper
April 25, 2011 at 7:28pm
Dunno if someone said this yet, I just wanted to point out that you said "coutersued" rather than "countersued." Oh, and I agree it was a bad move by apple.
whpcguru
April 24, 2011 at 8:12pm
The last time I checked, 100% of the outrageously overpriced crap Apple pushes was not "invented" by them, nor has it ever been. To the best of my knowledge, they take existing tech and add a percieved "cool" factor to it then add their ridiculous pricepoints. Then the rabbid Apple zombies stand in line for hours to be the first fool on the block! All I have to say is that I hope Samsung breaks it off in them!
nealtse
April 24, 2011 at 11:42am
Yeah, I think Apple's bitten off a little more then it can chew. At first glance, they have the USA market power, and the media on their side, but Samsung has bits and pieces in just about every entertainment industry, a wide portfolio of patents and international markets not to mention all the fabrication of base components that Apple relies on. Plus, who is going to want to deal with Apple when they learn it can turn on them so quick.
mikeart03a
April 24, 2011 at 9:43am
If you ask me, not a smart move on Apple's part, especially seeing as they're suing a number of other mobile device manufacturers. These manufacturers just might form a patent pool and then unleash their combined might on Apple and I wouldn't want to be Apple then... 6 Legal Departments versus 1 isn't looking good.
And no, I'm not hating on Apple, I've owned 3 iPods up until my barely one year old iTouch died on me last summer. Now I'm crusing around with a Sony E-Series Walkman and I'm loving the fact that I have FM radio on it.
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