Apple-Samsung verdict: Nothing to change in India

Samsung India has told TOI that the verdict in the US would have no effect on the company?s business in India.

NEW DELHI: The shock of landmark jury ruling, which found Samsung guilty of infringing on several Apple patents and asked it to pay nearly $1.05 billion in damages, is finally subsiding. Samsung India on Friday told TOI that the verdict in the US would have no effect on the company's business in India.

Ranjit Yadav, country head for Samsung mobile & IT, said that the company would neither slow down roll out of Samsung products here nor cut any features from its phones.

"The ruling does not impact Samsung Smartphone and tablet sales in India. We will continue to strengthen our leadership in these segments in India based on our innovative new launches and give consumers more choice," he said.

Patrick Moorhead, president of technology consultancy firm Moor Insights & Strategy, said that in the short run it may affect Android phone makers and may benefit Apple. "The ruling gives Apple a temporary leg up, but it won't last for long given Samsung and other Android vendors have been considering a potential negative ruling," he said. "I also don't think that the verdict in its entirety will stand up to an appeal."

Samsung as well as other phone vendors have made conscious efforts to steer clear of Apple's design and utility patents. After launching Galaxy S, which had a strikingly similar design compared to iPhone 3GS, and getting in trouble over it, Samsung has tried to use non-uniform rounded edges in its phones. Also, Google, which makes the Android operating software that powers smartphones made by companies like Samsung, Motorola and HTC, has tried not to use the software features like "rubber bend effect" on which Apple had obtained patent.

"None of Apple's software patents are difficult to work around except for pinch and zoom. And I do not think the hardware patents will stand the scrutiny in higher courts," said Moorhead. Samsung had already announced it would appeal against the ruling made by the nine-member jury in a San Jose court.

Google, has meanwhile, scrambled to reassure its flock. In a carefully-worded statement after the verdict it has said that most of the infringement found by the court doesn't relate to the core Android features.

"The court of appeals will review both infringement and the validity of the patent claims. Most of these don't relate to the core Android operating system, and several are being re-examined by the US Patent Office," it has said in a statement. "The mobile industry is moving fast and all players ? including newcomers ? are building upon ideas that have been around for decades. We work with our partners to give consumers innovative and affordable products, and we don't want anything to limit that."

Apple and Samsung are fighting a global battle for domination in the smartphone industry. According to IDC data, in Q2, 2012 Samsung had a share of 21.6% compared to Apple's 6.9% in the global smartphone market. More tellingly, Horace Dediu, an analyst for Asymco, believed that in Q4, 2011, Apple (73%) and Samsung (26%) cornered nearly all of the profit that was generated in the smartphone industry.

Source: http://timesofindia.feedsportal.com/fy/8at2Etf0dec7n334/story01.htm

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