How would you deal with Apple's patent lawsuits?

Rameses · 8 Sep 2011 at 13:56

Say you have a say in who/what/how/why/when Apple took to the lawyers to handle patent lawsuits.

Would you drop them all, open dialogues with Samsung? Keep at it and fight to the end?

Personally I'd drop all suits with all companies and ask for open discussions about real patent sharing and licensing to prevent these lawsuits in the first place. It seems everyone holds a patent to some part of a device, be it mobile or other and surely this fighting could end up costing companies more in the future.

What's your take on it? Should Apple just be flattered that Samsung took a leaf out of its design and just get on with it, or is there another option I haven't mentioned...

shine · 8 Sep 2011 at 13:57

That current US patent system is a shambles. I bet if you removed all the legal fees involved in the various lawsuits and put it into research instead each company could create something new.

Fr0dders · 8 Sep 2011 at 14:14

Its not just apple though

everybody is at it.

I'd just make all the patents in this market null and void and stop all this shenanigans overnight.

shine · 8 Sep 2011 at 14:17

Here's a good read on why/how the US patent system is broken:

http://news.cnet.com/Fixing-a-broken-patent-system/2010-1014_3-6212615.html

If the US fix their system it would stop a lot of the litigation.

PiKe · 8 Sep 2011 at 14:20

What I want to know is, who has the patent of the patent system?

Deleted member 77746 · 8 Sep 2011 at 20:22

PiKe said:
What I want to know is, who has the patent of the patent system?

I do, I own everything.

Robbo · 9 Sep 2011 at 12:38

People are only upset about this because Apple are doing it. Other companies have done it to Apple before and so forth.

Apple obviously have an exceptional legal team that are making the most of the current patent laws. Not only that, but they must have some pretty solid patents otherwise none of this would hold up at all, if it's that easy, why aren't Samsung able to defend themselves or even turn the tables on Apple?

This is all just business, and unfortunately it's just another thing for the anti-Apple 'crew' to have a fit about. They just embarrass themselves once more.

I can't say exactly what I would do as I'm not privy to enough information, but if I had the chance to limit the sales of a rival company, I'd take it.

Oh and one more thing, Samsung massively ripped off the iPhone 3G/S when they designed the Galaxy S. Apple obviously aren't going to be too happy about that, even though it probably hurt Samsung's sales more than anything as people didn't want a 'cheap imitation'.

Alpherah · 9 Sep 2011 at 12:46

Robbo said:
People are only upset about this because Apple are doing it. Other companies have done it to Apple before and so forth.

Apple obviously have an exceptional legal team that are making the most of the current patent laws. Not only that, but they must have some pretty solid patents otherwise none of this would hold up at all, if it's that easy, why aren't Samsung able to defend themselves or even turn the tables on Apple?

This is all just business, and unfortunately it's just another thing for the anti-Apple 'crew' to have a fit about. They just embarrass themselves once more.

I can't say exactly what I would do as I'm not privy to enough information, but if I had the chance to limit the sales of a rival company, I'd take it.

Oh and one more thing, Samsung massively ripped off the iPhone 3G/S when they designed the Galaxy S. Apple obviously aren't going to be too happy about that, even though it probably hurt Samsung's sales more than anything as people didn't want a 'cheap imitation'.

Think everyone's been saying this throughout the whole saga in the Apple forums. But elsewhere its like banging your head on a wall.
Its just cool to hate Apple right now.

Apple have everything to lose, and little to gain however. They have become by far the most successful company ever if you judge this on company value, if they were to lose these suits against Samsung and HTC it would damage them quite badly financially and in terms of reputation.

Apple are going to move their manufacturing away from Samsung it seems, which i think is about $6 billion a year in Samsung's pockets at the moment. If Apple were to win these cases combined with the loss of income from Apple themselves into a rival company, it could set Samsung back enough for Apple to establish themselves as 'king' in the smartphone world, so to them maybe its a risk worth taking

Robbo · 9 Sep 2011 at 12:47

Alpherah said:
Think everyone's been saying this throughout the whole saga in the Apple forums. But elsewhere its like banging your head on a wall.
Its just cool to hate Apple right now.

Oh, I know that only too well.

Alpherah · 9 Sep 2011 at 12:52

Isn't there an old saying, something like you know you've made it when you have haters and supporters in equal measure?

Alpherah · 9 Sep 2011 at 14:35

“The court is of the opinion that Apple’s minimalistic design isn’t the only technical solution to make a tablet computer, other designs are possible.
For the informed customer there remains the predominant overall impression that the device looks like the design Apple has protected in Europe.”

The above is the judges verdict in Germany regarding the Galaxy Tab, hearing for smartphones is due at a later date.

Judge wouldn't grant a ban for all EU nations, saying its up to the individual countries to decide.

Robbo · 9 Sep 2011 at 14:36

According to 'certain people', the judge is a clueless idiot who is borderline insane.

Alpherah · 9 Sep 2011 at 14:42

These people wouldn't be owners of Android devices by any chance?

As someone said in the mobile forum:

Immsy said:
Cant say im surprised about the ban. As soon as Samsung said they were changing their design as a result of Apple launching the iPad2, the writing was on the wall. When it came out looking pretty much like the iPad2 Apple was always going to have a case. Samsung should have stuck to their original design. Only a matter of time before its also banned in other european countries too.

Robbo · 9 Sep 2011 at 14:45

Indeed.

Alpherah · 9 Sep 2011 at 14:53

on the topic of lawsuits, anyone else expect to see an Apple vs X, where X is a laptop developer for copying their Macbook Air design?

If anyone else has seen the design for the new "intel Ultrabook" concept you'l understand where I'm coming from.

Deleted member 77746 · 9 Sep 2011 at 17:50

It's gone lawsuit mad.

b0rn2sk8 · 9 Sep 2011 at 18:08

The problem is where do you get all that flash memory if its not made by samsung.

Alpherah · 9 Sep 2011 at 18:24

Toshiba supply Apple as well as Samsung, so there's options.

sarge78 · 9 Sep 2011 at 23:51

The whole thing reminds me of this Mighty boosh episode

QwaF · 10 Sep 2011 at 01:26

There is the weird dislike for Apple. Much more than any other tech company, almost any, even the Microsoft hate never got so personal. I think that is mainly because Apple push some sort of principles, they seem to add a personality to the company that some people really despise.

Now, I don't agree that this is a valuable way for Apple to spend their time and money, nor do I think it is for any of the other companies. Now, there are many situations where these companies should try and protect themselves - but some of the patents seem very petty.

Many, many people are attacking Apple too, but it's seemingly ignored by many people. It doesn't make what Apple is doing ok, but nor does it justify ignoring everyone elses lawsuits.

http://www.redmondpie.com/this-info...ing-whom-in-the-mobile-industry-over-patents/