Innovation Asset Blog

Samsung's latest patent victory could be short-lived

Samsung may have scored an important victory in the smartphone patent wars this week after a Dutch court dismissed claims that the South Korean mobile device manufacturer had infringed upon Apple's touchscreen technology. However, the American tech giant insisted that the ruling could soon be overshadowed by the result of a Department of Justice-led investigation into Samsung's patent licensing tactics.

Apple argued its case before The Hague last month, suggesting that its proprietary multi-touch capabilities - which are typically used to zoom in and out of mobile displays - were infringed upon within the production of Samsung smartphones and tablets. According to Reuters, the Dutch court has now joined its counterparts in Britain and Germany in dismissing Apple's accusations.

Despite losing this battle, Apple remains confident that they will come out ahead at the end of the war. According to CNET, the company recently revealed in an International Trade Commission filing that its rival Samsung has been the subject of a months-long Department of Justice investigation into the licensing of standard-essential patents.

Although federal officials have not yet confirmed this statement, the Justice Department already investigated a similar controversy prior to Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility earlier this year. As in this case, investigators were concerned that companies were licensing their standard-essential patents on unreasonable terms as a way to stifle competition.ADNFCR-3832-ID-800892874-ADNFCR

Peter Ackerman

Peter Ackerman

Founder & CEO, Innovation Asset Group, Inc.