In a shock move, Apple recently sued key supplier and long-term ‘frenemy’ Samsung. The very same Samsung Apple spent nearly $6 billion with in 2010. Now, in a move that can only be called ‘unsurprising’, the Korean consumer electronics giant has countersued the makers of the iPhone and iPad.
Going global
The Samsung Apple suit has taken something of an international flavour, with the Korean giant filing suits in Japan, South Korea and Germany. The consumer electronics giant alleges there are 10 patent infringements inherent in Apple’s technology, including 3G technology, power reduction during data transmission, wireless data comms tech, and 3G tech that reduces errors during the transmission of data.
In the statement accompanying the countersuit, the Korean consumer electronics giant says: ‘Samsung is responding actively to the legal action taken against us in order to protect our intellectual property and to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communications business.’
Business is at stake
The suit and countersuit only put the precarious Samsung Apple relationship at more risk than it already was. With Apple being Samsung’s second-biggest competing company – behind only Sony – spending $5.7 billion on components in 2010, even the slightest dent in business relations could severely hamper the Korean company’s bottom line.
Likewise, the same thing applies to Apple, who’re reliant on Sammy for many components because the supplier offers a good balance of high quality products at a favourable price. The perfectionists that Apple are will not want to compromise quality, making this suit and its subsequent countersuit all that more intriguing, especially in terms of how it affects the mobile landscape as a whole.
It’s difficult to pick a horse in this battle. Both Samsung and Apple make fantastic smartphones – and products in general – so seeing them go head to head like this makes us only feel they’re not focused on what they should be – making and selling fantastic hardware. This is definitely one to watch.
Read more
Going global
The Samsung Apple suit has taken something of an international flavour, with the Korean giant filing suits in Japan, South Korea and Germany. The consumer electronics giant alleges there are 10 patent infringements inherent in Apple’s technology, including 3G technology, power reduction during data transmission, wireless data comms tech, and 3G tech that reduces errors during the transmission of data.
In the statement accompanying the countersuit, the Korean consumer electronics giant says: ‘Samsung is responding actively to the legal action taken against us in order to protect our intellectual property and to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communications business.’
Business is at stake
The suit and countersuit only put the precarious Samsung Apple relationship at more risk than it already was. With Apple being Samsung’s second-biggest competing company – behind only Sony – spending $5.7 billion on components in 2010, even the slightest dent in business relations could severely hamper the Korean company’s bottom line.
Likewise, the same thing applies to Apple, who’re reliant on Sammy for many components because the supplier offers a good balance of high quality products at a favourable price. The perfectionists that Apple are will not want to compromise quality, making this suit and its subsequent countersuit all that more intriguing, especially in terms of how it affects the mobile landscape as a whole.
It’s difficult to pick a horse in this battle. Both Samsung and Apple make fantastic smartphones – and products in general – so seeing them go head to head like this makes us only feel they’re not focused on what they should be – making and selling fantastic hardware. This is definitely one to watch.
Read more

