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Apple Claims Samsung and Motorola Patent Monopoly
esocid writes with a bit in Daily Tech about the ongoing spat between Apple and the rest of the mobile world. From the article: "Apple lawyers are crying foul about Samsung, and ... Motorola's allegedly 'anticompetitive,' use of patents. ... Apparently Apple is irate about these companies' countersuits, which rely largely on patents covering wireless communications, many of which are governed by the 'fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory' (F/RAND) principle, as they were developed as part of industry standards. ... Apple takes issue with the fact that Motorola in its countersuit declines to differentiate the 7 F/RAND patents in its 18 patent collection. ... Regardless of what Florian Mueller says, it's hard to dispute that the 'rules' of F/RAND are largely community dictated and ambiguous."
Those cheering this news against Apple should think twice - breaking away from the promise of FRAND screws over the whole industry. The point of this patents was that companies donated them to a pool with the understanding that EVERYONE could use them equally. If they are reneging on that promise then the entire industry will collapse because ALL mobile phones use those patents, and what is to stop the companies that make $20 cell phones from also being sued for violation of the same patents...
Apple is a least suing using patents they had not promised to anyone for free and nondiscriminatory use, and yet many here appear to be attempting to paint this countersuit as being equal in any way.
No, this is the ultimate patent troll action - build up a whole industry on the back of patents you said anyone could use, they yank it all away.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Give me a break, Oh Open Superior Life Forms.
Perform the following experience: Give a Samsung Tablet and an iPad to your Average Idiot, you know, the MARKET for these bright shiny toys. Ask them if they come from the same company. Easily 99% yes, right?
This is the real battle: Apple builds a great product, forces ATT to their knees to have $15/month non-subscription plans, is about to come out with a world/universal phone that works on ALL networks, and basically takes the power from the lame cell carriers and brick dumb handset manufacturers. You know, innovation, right?
Then your basic we-make-anything manufacturer, no innovation just machine parts and chips, jumps in with a copy cat. BMW could have made these Android things.
So slack up know-it-alls, Apple really provided YOU with new freedoms from both the carriers and handset manufacturers who have been fucking you for years.