Apple was recently awarded
$1.05 billion dollars after a long awaited hearing in damages due to
Samsung's trade dress, design and software patent infringements. This is a
monetary win for the tech guru, Apple, but for Samsung, it's a huge loss. However,
it seems that consumers will be most affected by this court decision.
The truth is, the patent
system in the US is lagging. It's hard to think of a world where the only
square smartphone is the iPhone. There are certain specifications Apple sued
for, which analysts believe should be universal for all phones. To put it into
perspective; imagine if all cars had to have different shaped steering wheels
due to patents - how would that turn out?
What's interesting is that the iPhone 4S' primary
competitor, the Galaxy SIII, wasn't included in any of these patent disputes.
Apple is asking that Samsung
take these products off the market: Galaxy S 4G, Galaxy S2 AT&T, Galaxy
S2, Galaxy S2 T-Mobile, Galaxy S2 Epic 4G, Galaxy S Showcase, Droid Charge and
Galaxy Prevail; which begs the question: Why not the Galaxy SIII?
An injunction hearing is set on September 20th where we will find out if Samsung will have to take the aforementioned products
off the market. If Samsung's products do get taken off the market, this will
make for a full out innovation war amongst smartphone competitors. Apple takes
this win now - in perfect timing for
its iPhone 5 debut - but it may be the fuel that will light competitors'
fire.
As for me, I have been researching the Galaxy SIII since my
iPhone 4 was stolen, never to be returned. In 15 days the ‘iPhone 5' will
hopefully be presented to the world. Then the tech reviews will be written up
where I (like others) can finally decide; the iPhone
or Galaxy?
