Speaking of a patent war in the smartphone industry…
Compared to the massive Google-Motorola deal, Samsung’s ongoing battle with Apple is more like a skirmish, but it probably shows just how disruptive Google’s strategy could be, if they can pull it off.
The companies have been filing suits and counter-suits against each other since April, when Apple filed a complaint in US courts, alleging that Samsung had copied patents. Apple even claims that Samsung’s Galaxy tablet nicked patents on the iPad’s exclusive, er, rectangular and black shape. That’s right. One of these:
Anyway, the allegations are symptomatic of the ridiculous patent war that is raging between global electronics companies. There’s a special incentive for Apple to defend patents given its products have more or less often come from blank slates.
Where does that leave a manufacturer in the middle like Samsung, though?
We’d note that the Galaxy tablet uses Google’s new Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system. The buying out of Motorola Mobility by Google should give companies that run Android, like Samsung, a much stronger position in the patent war in the future — that is if Google doesn’t alienate its Android team-mates in the meantime.
After all, the only thing holding Android back from taking a commanding position in the mobile telecoms market is its losing battle with patents. As a result, shares in Samsung Electronics, the world’s biggest producer of Android phones by sales, jumped 6.1 per cent on Tuesday, says the FT. HTC shares have jumped as well. Both they and Samsung have been embroiled in copy-cat patent litigation with Apple. A Samsung spokesman said the Google-Motorola deal would ”protect us from future patent disputes.”
Just as well really. Samsung’s next front in its Apple patent skirmish is to appeal a temporary order banning sales of the latest version of the Galaxy tablet in Europe. The deadline for an appeal? Ten days.
Related links:
Apple said to ditch 2011 iPad 3 launch – FT Tech Hub
Presenting the Google phone - FT Alphaville