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Monday, July 02, 2012, 03:42 pm
Google comes to Samsung's aid in patent battle with Apple
Smartphone maker Samsung and Android creator Google are "working closely to create a united front" in the face of legal challenges from Apple, according to a new report.Samsung has confirmed that it is working with Google to fend of patent infringement claims made by Apple, according to The Korea Times. The announcement marks the first time that Samsung has confirmed it is receiving assistance from Google in its legal battle with Apple.
Years ago, Google publicly announced that it was supporting Android smartphone maker HTC after that company was hit with a lawsuit from Apple. But Google has not publicly indicated any such agreement with Samsung as its patent infringement dispute with Apple has ballooned into multiple lawsuits in numerous countries around the world.
Now Samsung reportedly hopes that Google's assistance will give the Korean electronics maker an advantage in the courtroom against Apple. An unnamed official with Samsung quoted by the Times as saying the company hopes it will be able to earn royalties from Apple.
"The fight is becoming more dramatic and the possibility of a truce in the form of a cross-licensing deal seems to be becoming likely," they were quoted as saying.
Another industry source also reportedly indicated that Apple's newly earned injunction barring sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will cost Samsung about $80 million. The injunction was awarded last week and went into effect almost immediately after Apple posted the necessary $2.6 million bond.
Apple also won another injunction in the U.S. last week against Samsung's Galaxy Nexus smartphone. That handset was co-developed by Samsung and Google, and runs an unmodified version of Google's Android mobile operating system.
Samsung's losses on the Galaxy Nexus could be even greater, as industry sources reportedly indicated that the company could lose up to $120 million if the sales ban extends for two months.
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Previous Comments View All
Good, now both of them can die together.
So, Google fell for the bait Steve promised when he warned Google he was going to go thermonuclear on them. Good! Jobs mentored Brin and Page and lent Schmidt credibility by gifting him a seat on Apple's board and those slimy MFs spit in Jobs' face and stole his intellectual property. Google has lost any mojo it had and is now just a copycat Microsoft wannabe.
Stupid for Google to enter the dispute.
Sooner than later Samsung will compete with Google.
If it remains dependent to Google then it may be another Sony in the future,
"The fight is becoming more dramatic and the possibility of a truce in the form of a cross-licensing deal seems to be becoming likely"
These things usually end in some form of compromise deal so I guess this is the most likely outcome in the end.
Stupid for Google to enter the dispute.
Sooner than later Samsung will compete with Google.
If it remains dependent to Google then it may be another Sony in the future,
As long as whatever Samsung offers includes Google services (maps, GMail, etc) I don't think it would matter too much. I don't see Samsung entering the search space to compete with Google. Maybe I'm missing something.
All Google has to do is change its OS by taking out these Apple claims. Slide to unlock is pretty simple to avoid by using two fingers gesture or even by shaking the phone a bit. There's a ton of ways to unlock a phone. Other patents would just have to be taken out our of Android and Google should see if they can license them from Apple. Google already paying $5-$15 per phone to Microsoft for their licenses.
Maybe I'll get to say "Now Google has sued someone".
And mobsters aren't murderers if they only commission the hit.
Has Apple sued Google directly? Because that seems to be where this all is headed from my outsider POV. Set up some background by fighting the companies that make the phones, then find a way to draw Google in and get them on the software that makes it all possible.
Can't say I support only Apple making these type of smartphones, but Android probably did end AT&T iphone exclusivity faster and push certain new features faster. That said its pretty clear they copied iOS a lot. Kind of a grey area where I mostly back Apple for being more innovative and creative. And cohesive. And aesthetic.
... and in a related interview later that day the Samsung spokesperson said that the lawsuit strategy against Apple was going 'very smooth ...'
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Maybe I'll get to say "Now Google has sued someone". ;)
I still doubt it tho. This could be anything from a faulty translation to Google joining Samsung in filing a new suit. It will be intersting to see if the report is at all accurate and what it actually means. IMO Google is going to have to involve itself more strongly than it has so far, and sooner rather than later.