According to reports from the KoreaTime, Samsung’s hierarchy continues to present a defiant front in the face of the ongoing litigations from Apple. This time Samsung’s mobile chief Shin Jong-kyun state that without Samsung’s patent Apple would not have been able to produce their iPhone.
According to the report this is what Shin had to say to reporters:
[quote] The truth never lies. Without Samsung-owned wireless patents, it’s impossible for the Cupertino-based Apple to produce its handsets. As you know, Samsung is very strong in terms of portfolios of wireless patents. The re-evaluation decision by the USITC doesn’t necessarily mean Samsung is better-positioned for the fight with Apple. But Samsung will do its best. Samsung’s legal team is effectively responding to this fight. Yes, a new trial for the case is a possibility.[/quote]
These comments by Shin Jong-kyun while sincere and has Samsung’s best interest at heart, have totally missed the point of what is at play here. This is definitely a cultural thing. It appears that some companies in Asia have very little regards to the Intellectual Property of others. Nokia did not copied Apple’s iPhone design despite feeling aggrieved that Apple was using their IP to build their products. The Finnish company sued Apple and got their just reward.
If Samsung felt that Apple was usin their IPs, they could have gone down the same route as Nokia. Instead, Samsung is using their huge portfolio of patents to bully others in abusing their IPs without negotiating in a formal manner. Apple is now paying Nokia royalties and should be doing the same to Samsung and Motorola Mobility. And given the noise that is coming out from the Cupertino -based company legal camp, it seems that they are prepared to do just that.
The report went on to state that:
[quote] Shin also confirmed Samsung isn’t currently negotiating with the iPhone maker for a possible peace treaty. But the executive declined to elaborate further.
There have been some speculations that the Suwon-based Samsung may negotiate with Apple to reach a settlement after Taiwan’s HTC, which is a member of the Google Android community, agreed to pay 300 billion to Apple.
Apple and HTC had settled their global patent battle with a 10-year licensing agreement. Patent experts in Seoul said Apple is in talks with Google to reach a separate settlement in an attempt to put more focus on the fight with Samsung.[/quote]
At the conclusion of this settlement by Apple, Samsung still needs to answer for the copying of Apple’s.
Source: KoreaTimes
