Apple and Nokia Outraged That Samsung Lawyers Leaked Patent License Terms

An anonymous reader writes "U.S. courts have strict rules in place governing the treatment of confidential business information. The most sensitive information is labeled 'highly confidential — attorneys' eyes only', meaning that only a company's outside lawyers are allowed to see it. The Apple-Nokia patent settlement contract and deals Apple struck with others (Ericsson, Sharp, Philips) were such highly confidential business information. But a Samsung executive allegedly boasted in a patent licensing negotiation with Nokia a few months ago about knowing all the terms of the Apple-Nokia deal because the Korean company's lawyers had provided it to their client, against the rules. The United States District Court for the Northern District of California now wants to find out more before deciding on sanctions against Samsung and its law firm, Quinn Emanuel."

Comments

Dear Leftwing People

[Anonymous Coward]

I am Rightwing, you hate me, but let's put that aside.

If you want to rein in the power of big business, don't do it through tons of stupid regulation and taxes, do it with one simple regulation: businesses should not get to lie or keep secrets.

It's a fundamental assumption of "perfect market economics" (no information asymmetry) and what everybody thinks are the wonderful benefits of free markets are actually the wonderful benefits of perfect markets. If you don't have perfect markets, you don't get the benefits.

This is how to make the free market work, and it's a regulation any pinko could love.