Wrath of the Mobile Industry Giants

last august 2010, apple lawyers went to south korea after samsung launched its galaxy smartphone. steve jobs, the late co-founder of apple, informed samsung that the galaxy s, running under android operating system, was an illegal copy of the iphone. samsung, being a provider to apple, felt that a solution can be made from their ties. apple said that android operating system imitate the iphone design and usability.

the meeting between the two companies was not good and so samsung was accused of copying and producing their own patents without the permission from apple. their battle was brought into courts; there was war for multi-country patent. the court’s verdict favored to apple and had samsung pay for $1.05 billion worth in damages, which can be tripled in amount. there was a sudden dive of the company’s revenue and wiped out $12 billion over its market value.

in great disbelief, samsung says that apple should not be allowed to claim the patent particularly the design like the form of a rectangle and the front flat surface of the iphone. however, apple considered the design to be high up on the intellectual property and showing such was very critical.

apple revolutionized the world of mobile by launching iphone in the market last 2007. in the same year, google which is an ally of the apple company, wowed the market with its open handset alliance by dispensing the android operating system.

now, the battle became bitter when the galaxy tab 10.1 was released by samsung, which is a clear manifestation of a rip-off of the ipad; samsung how no intention whatsoever of modifying its products. thus, apple sued samsung for copying the design interface. a judge issued the bans on the sale against galaxy tab 10.1 and the galaxy nexus phone. as for the table, samsung has the right to compete, but does not have the right to compete unfairly.

samsung now would like to claim to have set the essential standards for the 4g. however, courts are not likely to block such standards other than intellectual property rights. many documents can prove that samsung modified its products to run more like an iphone.

samsung kept on with the war by promising to deliver modified products in the market.

as for my end, a samsung is really a copy-cat of the iphone especially the tablets that are out in the market. i believe there should be fair practice particularly on the design interface. the idea of solving the complexity is more than just an intellectual property. designs have to respected and protected.

i have tried both technologies; apple has marveled me with the simplicity of their interface. samsung may be doing the same but still cannot outdo in terms of speed, simplicity through its user-friendly features and many others.

i am looking forward to seeing more wars between the companies mentioned. without wars, there shall be no improvement and development of its products, features and services!