Samsung exec says Apple's claims of copying iPhone design won't be 'legally problematic'
The head of Samsung's mobile communications business has said in a new interview that he isn't concerned with legal ramifications from Apple's assertion that Samsung copied the "look and feel" of devices like the iPhone and iPad.
"We didn't copy Apple's design," J.K. Shin said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. "We have used many similar designs over the past years and it [Apple's allegation] will not be legally problematic."
Shin also reportedly suggested that the scale of the current legal battle with Apple could grow. However, he declined to elaborate.
The courtroom showdown began in April when Apple sued Samsung, charging the South Korean electronics company with copying its devices with products like the Galaxy S, Nexus S, Epic 4G and Galaxy Tab. Samsung quickly fired back, and accused Apple of infringing on patents it owns related to cellphone transmission technologies.
Samsung has been ordered by a California judge to show Apple prototypes of new devices it is working on, and Samsung has requested that it receive an advanced look at Apple's next iPhone and iPad as well. The legal battle ensues even as Apple remains one of the largest customers, of Samsung, which makes processors, displays, memory and more for Apple's mobile devices.
Samsung's own devices, which compete with Apple's iPhone and iPad, are powered by the Google Android mobile operating system. Shin said in his interview with the Journal that Samsung plans to continue to rely on Android with future devices.
Samsung has been working on its own proprietary platform, dubbed Bada, for some time, and it isn't abandoning that software, the company said. But the report also revealed that Samsung is "focusing on Android," particularly in the tablet business where the company hopes to compete with Apple's market-leading iPad.
"When there is a market need for our own software, we will consider it," said Younghee Lee, senior vice president of sales and marketing with Samsung. "But that's not our plan at the moment."
"We didn't copy Apple's design," J.K. Shin said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. "We have used many similar designs over the past years and it [Apple's allegation] will not be legally problematic."
Shin also reportedly suggested that the scale of the current legal battle with Apple could grow. However, he declined to elaborate.
The courtroom showdown began in April when Apple sued Samsung, charging the South Korean electronics company with copying its devices with products like the Galaxy S, Nexus S, Epic 4G and Galaxy Tab. Samsung quickly fired back, and accused Apple of infringing on patents it owns related to cellphone transmission technologies.
Samsung has been ordered by a California judge to show Apple prototypes of new devices it is working on, and Samsung has requested that it receive an advanced look at Apple's next iPhone and iPad as well. The legal battle ensues even as Apple remains one of the largest customers, of Samsung, which makes processors, displays, memory and more for Apple's mobile devices.
Samsung's own devices, which compete with Apple's iPhone and iPad, are powered by the Google Android mobile operating system. Shin said in his interview with the Journal that Samsung plans to continue to rely on Android with future devices.
Samsung has been working on its own proprietary platform, dubbed Bada, for some time, and it isn't abandoning that software, the company said. But the report also revealed that Samsung is "focusing on Android," particularly in the tablet business where the company hopes to compete with Apple's market-leading iPad.
"When there is a market need for our own software, we will consider it," said Younghee Lee, senior vice president of sales and marketing with Samsung. "But that's not our plan at the moment."
Comments
How the hell do you think a company can violate like a dozen patents from a competitor without stealing their sh**?
Well, according to Apple (and, you know, the law), they can't. Hence the suit.
Some, but not all of Samsung's products cross the line and have become very obvious "copies" of Apple's products.
Because the courts have already ordered Samsung to hand over their devices. A determination has already been made that Apple has a case. That's kinda problematic.
Samsung truly doesn't grasp the legal foundation Apple holds and the legal staffing Apple has which dwarfs anyone practically across all industries.
I look forward to the parent company of Samsung Mobile rebuking this clown and referring to all lawsuits to their Legal Staffing for further questions.
Really? Not "problematic"?
Because the courts have already ordered Samsung to hand over their devices. A determination has already been made that Apple has a case. That's kinda problematic.
Exactly. Just further proof that Samsung has lots of idiot execs who don't see anything wrong in stealing intellectual property. Whether they actually did this has not, of course, been proven, but they are being charged and the court has found that there's a reasonable case.
I've not seen one with that layout so far, looks odd.
Exactly. Just further proof that Samsung has lots of idiot execs who don't see anything wrong in stealing intellectual property. Whether they actually did this has not, of course, been proven, but they are being charged and the court has found that there's a reasonable case.
They likely knew it was wrong or that they were walking a line. The issue seems to be, ostensibly, that they figured they could get away with it for long enough to reap a profit before anyone said anything.
This is likely how it goes with IP issues. Just keep doing what you're doing until someone takes notice.
In other words, if there's a problem they'll just tell you to stop and then the courts can figure it out. Nothing personal.
This just shows the mindset of Samsung execs. The battle is over. It's iOS and possibly, maybe Android for the tablet market. Samsung would face the task of developing its own ecosystem for its own mobile OS, luring developers to it, opening its own app store, just like Apple did. It's too late in my opinion, for yet another mobile OS to enter the market. Even Android is struggling in the tablet market at present.
and the legal staffing Apple has which dwarfs anyone practically across all industries.
Have you actually seen the size of Samsung. It actually crosses most industries. I believe it accounts for over 20% of South Korea's GDP, though have no references. That said, it is a very protected company in south Korea. Now, I'm not saying Apple shouldn't be suing them, in fact I believe they should be. I just think people shouldn't underestimate a company the size of Samsung. Its size really does make Apple look like a start-up.
Even if Samsung are scared stiff the company line will be 'no problem'.
Exactly. Just further proof that Samsung has lots of idiot execs who don't see anything wrong in stealing intellectual property. Whether they actually did this has not, of course, been proven, but they are being charged and the court has found that there's a reasonable case.
Part of the problem, may be Korean culture and business practices. I get the feeling that they don't have a problem with blatant copying. If you look at their designs over the years, they are always shifting their products designs to mirror whatever the hot devices are in the market. Many of their older phones strongly resembled Nokia devices, others resembled RIM products. Now they copy Apple... It's the way that Samsung does business. Copying isn't an innovation.
The thing with "some" of Samsungs devices, that it's not just one or two little things, it's a lot of things, right down to the packaging that Apple argues that crosses the line and creates confusion in the marketplace. I don't always agree with everything that Apple does, but I tend to agree with them here.
By the same token, if Apple is found guilty of unlawfully using another company's IP, then they need to be held accountable as well. Live by the sword, die by the sword.
Inspiring each other is fine, that drives innovation and creates healthy competition.
Some, but not all of Samsung's products cross the line and have become very obvious "copies" of Apple's products.
the astounding similarities plus the fact that Samsung makes parts for Apple's devices and therefore may have been privy to details in advance is exactly why this hasn't been summarily dismissed. Which means it is 'legally problematic'. If it wasn't, the judge would have tossed the case on day one (cause you know that's the first thing that Samsung asked for)
That possible advance information is likely why the judge is letting Apple's lawyers see Samsung's soon to be announced/released stuff. See if it has any similarities to the iphone 5 for example. There's no way that Samsung can say they were 'inspired' by something that hasn't been publicly released. More like they stole from trade secrets that they had access to due to making parts for the item. Say, for example, if Apple is putting in the curved glass that is now rumored for the next phone. If Samsung as a phone really to go out in the next couple of weeks with that same shape (which means they were producing it well before the rumors started like a week ago), it does not look good.
As for Samsung trying to get access to the iphone 5 and ipad 3. Bogus. Their claims are all software based, ie iOS 5. The judge is likely to see this for what it is and reject it.
Don't understand there are many copycats out there always copy from the others rather than using their brains to design something more innovative products with strong sense of own product identities. Can't believe even some giant US companies also do the same thing.
Because most unique snowflakes melt.
suggest you look at the bottom line of apple vs samsung and reconsider your comment that apple looks like a 'start-up'.
apple has more net cash and more yearly profit than samsung. it surely has a better management.
Samsung: No, we didn't copy anything. Um, and we want to see Apple's next design, uh, so we can not copy it, too.
Don't understand there are many copycats out there always copy from the others rather than using their brains to design something more innovative products with strong sense of own product identities. Can't believe even some giant US companies also do the same thing.
It's cheaper to copy someone else's work than it is to innovate.