News - Apple sues Samsung for ‘copying’ mobile devices

[HEXUS]

The complex relationship between Apple and Samsung deteriorates.

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[3dcandy]

Simple answer here, Samsung stop supplying Apple. I'd love to see them scrabble around to get alternatives because Apple are just getting too bold, brassy and arsey because the sheep let them...

[Biscuit]

They will be suing my fruit basket soon because i took a bite out of an apple and put it back leaving a side profile which resembles an apple logo

In all serious though, there is a definite 'bite the hand that feeds you' point... although apple could easily go to another supplier for their chips. I assume the market is quite competitive and its more beneficial for Samsung to have their chips in the ipad than to try and use it as a blackmail.

[keithwalton]

Apple are just sour that spec wise samsung hardware has nudged out apple hardware by fractions only days after apple release there new shiney toy so that they cant call the ipad 2 the thinnest or lightest 10" tablet with the best camera's etc.

Stand tough samsung just withold a minor part for now that forces them to halt production and redesign the boards.
Unless apple have other suppliers lined up and ready to go they could put themselves out of action for a few months if they suddenly run out of A5's

[Barakka]

In the grand scheme of things Apple buy components from a Samsung Semiconductors company (or similar) and i'd bet that Samsung Mobile Communications probably buy them as a customer the same as Apple, just they have the same first name.

So Apple have a gripe with Samsung Mobile over the closeness of the physical design between the iPad/iPhone and the new Samsung gear.

In the end it's just foot stamping with free publicity for both parties, firing up the Apple fans to cry about Samsung copying, and the Samsung fans to whine about how Apple are being petty because Samsung devices are better and you can't copyright a shape, yada yada yada... in which both sides are falling for it, hook line and sinker.

The truth is any real disputes like this with companies so in bed with each other would all be resolved by men sat in wing-back leather chairs smoking cigars in some country club somewhere.

[cameronlite]

Apple are just sour that spec wise samsung hardware has nudged out apple hardware by fractions only days after apple release there new shiney toy so that they cant call the ipad 2 the thinnest or lightest 10" tablet with the best camera's etc.

The Samsung Galaxy 10.1 has better cameras, a better screen and is lighter but it is not thinner.

Marketing wise, they are limited...

[aidanjt]

Lee Kun-hee: Hey Steve, remember that sweet bulk buy semi-conductor deal we were working on?

[Spud1]

Simple answer here, Samsung stop supplying Apple. I'd love to see them scrabble around to get alternatives because Apple are just getting too bold, brassy and arsey because the sheep let them...

Sadly not as simple as that - samsung really want the business anyway (they will make so much money from these deals it's unreal), and they are also organised into different business units that operate almost as separate companies. So the BU that supplies apple won't be directly affected by Apple sueing the mobile arm, nor will they really care.

After reading into this area a little i'd be blaming the US Government and patent system more than anything else - Apple have a Patent on their UI and if anything comes close to it, they have to defend it or risk losing the patent.

I do agree that it's a bit crazy though - yes the UI in question is a blatent rip off of the iOS interface, but I think it's crazy that a patent was granted on the UI in the first place..

[jim]

These kinds of cases become almost routine.

I think Barakka's pretty much on the money. When they can't agree, they just send it off to court and let them decide instead. It's not worth throwing a hissy fit in business.

[mrochester]

Apple is rumoured to have spent $5.7billion buying parts from Samsung last year. I doubt Samsung could pass up on that sort of business even if another division is being sued at the same time.

[HalloweenJack]

apple are also suing HTC

http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/02/a...phone-patents/

[spoon_]

The Samsung Galaxy 10.1 has better cameras, a better screen and is lighter but it is not thinner.

Marketing wise, they are limited...

If weight is the deciding factor here Galaxy is lighter by 6g/18g compared to iPad2 Wi-Fi/3G.
Thickness wise Samsung is 8.6mm as opposed to 8.8mm for the iPad 2

One only reason the Samsung its light its because its made out of shockingly tacky plastic, pretty bad for $500...

[cameronlite]

Thickness wise Samsung is 8.6mm as opposed to 8.8mm for the iPad 2

I actually had the specs on screen when I made my thickness comment - bad, bad comparrison website

[3dcandy]

I agree they probably couldn't afford the business, but neither can Apple afford to redesign everything and/or source alternatives...but I'd still threaten it. Withhold the parts till the case is sorted, I bet it gets dropped. Companies need to take the hard line with Apple, stories abound on t'internet about how hard they play price wise, so a dose of their own medicine will surely come at one stage.

[mrochester]

I agree they probably couldn't afford the business, but neither can Apple afford to redesign everything and/or source alternatives...but I'd still threaten it. Withhold the parts till the case is sorted, I bet it gets dropped. Companies need to take the hard line with Apple, stories abound on t'internet about how hard they play price wise, so a dose of their own medicine will surely come at one stage.

Likewise, Apple need to take the hard line with companies that think they can ride their coat tails of success. It works both ways!

[3dcandy]

I'd love to agree it works both ways, but in this case I reckon Samsung have the upper hand. My problem is with Apple's holier than thou attitude, they always come along and improve someone else's product and then say it's all theirs, but when someone makes something that resembles their product they sue the ass off them. They have real problems with their production lines with suicides, working practices and employing minors. Somehow though, the sheep always seem to forget this and still buy their products. Samsungs records aren't perfect, but are far better. It might hurt them, but what would happen if they decided to not do business with Apple, would another supplier be able to jump in for them? Or would prices rise and hurt Apple? Litigation of this sort is plain stupid, I understand that Apple have to fight (they have a patent on the iOS UI for instance) otherwise the patent is null, but it just hurts everyone involved. Samsung don't really need the business, they turn over billions without Apple, sure it's nice to make more, but if they just stopped supplying them it wouldn't be the end of them, would it?