Samsung is gaining traction in Asia where they are providing free internet in many places if you use the Samsung tablet. IT's going to be a fierce market out there soon.
"Is this really what we want in the marketplace, and is this the purpose patents are meant to serve?"
It is more than clear that Apple tries to avoid the same mistake as did it at 80s with the PC. And it is a very proper decision to go its rivals to the court because they copy its product (monkey products). However, it is wrong to use loopholes in the patent's law and with this way trying to kill the Android platform and to dominate in the tablet market.
I enjoyed this article and will read the details of the patent over the weekend. I do agree that it might not serve anyone (except Apple) to effectively let Apple create a monopoly on tablets. It is much better having healthy competition considering Apple has also had a good headstart capturing market share already.
Apple is being given too much power that will likely discourage competions in the tablets and smartphones market. But we can just expect the patents suits to continue for several years as variety of rival smartphone makers will challenge the suits.
As fas as the breadth of the design concept is concerned, if the claims in the patent are too broad in that they are not supported by the disclosure of the best mode of the invention in the patent, or if they read on the claims from other patents, they cna be successfully challenegd in court. Otherwise, if the claims are novel and non-obvious, and do not infringe another patent, they are valid. If someone else cannot challenge the claims on the basis of infringement, novelty, and obviousness, then the inventor is entitled to the breadth of claims put forth.
It is difficult to determine this early in the process how all the cases will work out, but if Apple is succeedn so well in the courts thus far, they must have some standing in their favor. Itis the express purpose of a patent to provide a limited time monopoly to the inventor of a process or article of manufacture in exchange for full disclosure of the best mode of the invention. This is intended to encourage investmetn in development, as well as provide for more rapdi and productive progress.
It is better for Samsung and other vendors to provide with novel ideas in new product introduction. It should not take short cut. There is always better way(From Agilent Instruments). Also, as major vendor to Apple, Samsung must be very careful in new product that competes with Apple.
I can't help but agree that this is a somewhat dangerous territory. It is one thing to violate a specific design patent it is totally another to uphold a generic design concept. Isn't that how monoploys are formed? As much as I like Apple's products, competition in the industry is what is makes things fair and equitable to the consumer.
If Samsung and others designed their own competitive tablet without infringing on specific an software patents, I can't see that the US and other countries would prohibit the sale of their products. Perhaps the current German ruling will be overturned!
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
To save this item to your list of favorite EBN content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
