Two Can Play At This Game: Samsung Wants To See Apple's Next Gen iPhones & iPads

from the patent-disputes dept

Tue, May 31st 2011 7:05pm — Mike Masnick

Last week, we noted that Apple had successfully convinced a court that Samsung should be forced to hand over unreleased prototypes of its new phones and tablet computers as part of its patent dispute with Samsung. In response, Samsung (which filed countersuits over other patents) is demanding Apple hand over its next generation iPhones and iPads to Samsung. The whole thing is getting pretty childish, which is basically what happens in patent disputes of this nature. Why can't these two companies just focus on competing in the marketplace, and letting the best company win based on who's buying what?

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Filed Under: ipads, iphones, patents
Companies: apple, samsung

28 Comments

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Gwiz (profile), 31 May 2011 @ 7:08pm

I'll show you mine, if you show me yours.

OK, you first.

No, YOU first.

No way. Both show on three, ok?

0K....1....2....
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Qritiqal (profile), 31 May 2011 @ 8:14pm

Re:
It's not the 8.
It's not the D.
It's how many = there are.
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James, 31 May 2011 @ 8:28pm

HAHA
Samsung can focus on competing but they obviously have to respond to Apple's BS. I hope they win, the Galaxy S (line) of phone is a step well above anything iphone.
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Anonymous Coward, 31 May 2011 @ 8:32pm

Patents have managed to hinder innovation in medicine and pharmaceuticals, and now they will seek to hinder tech related innovation too.
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Anonymous Coward, 31 May 2011 @ 8:36pm

This is Exactly what Anthony Weiner tweeted...he pulled the trigger too quick.
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Anonymous Coward, 31 May 2011 @ 9:35pm

Thou hast angered Steve Jobs!
All your prototype are belong to us! Hand them over and we shall crush you under his wallet.
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Old Fool (profile), 31 May 2011 @ 10:51pm

Watching two companies I have no love for tear each other apart is highly amusing.
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Anonymous Coward, 31 May 2011 @ 11:24pm

Re:
Are you the same guys who made the series of tubes that make up that newfangled internet thing?
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The eejit (profile), 1 Jun 2011 @ 12:14am

Re:
But I like my iPod Touch and Android phone!

*weeps*
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Snidely, 1 Jun 2011 @ 12:50am

Point out the bad guy
Mike - you make it sound like both parties are culpable when Apple started this fight. Should Samsung not defend itself by asking for the same stupid prototypes that Apple requested? You shouldn't sully Samsung's name by pretending they willingly got into this farce.
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Chris in Utah (profile), 1 Jun 2011 @ 1:40am

It makes one wonder if the players in the field came together to really inovate and share ideas what kind of world we will have. Altrustic? maybe. But free-markets work well with a repository of knowledge.

Also this brings up another good point; if were so against patents and the monopolies they bring are we willing to grant an arbitrary time length for even a shorter period? I know this has been discussed, ad nausem in other threads so spare us the debates on that issue.

However, can we get on a reasonable debate on abolishing the patent and copyright system?

This, my friends is the awakening period I think the world needs. It's through communication of ideas that greater ones develop and I pray I see that come to pass. The Whats In It For Me thought process is archaic and its never more blatantly obvious than it is here since I started reading TD back in Hot Cofee crack for NFS. Hey what can I say? My ideas flow to entertainment & having fun; Toy soldier that I am.
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Yeebok (profile), 1 Jun 2011 @ 3:52am

The more time they spend farting around with this garbage the further ahead HTC will get..
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Jun 2011 @ 4:20am

I don't think you can really blame Samsung for this move. They're simply responding defensively in the best way they can. Apple is the aggressor (in this case).
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Danny, 1 Jun 2011 @ 5:30am

Its a pretty vicious loop. Yes you can say that Samsung didn't have to take it to this level but in all actuality Apple started it. Maybe if Apple recognizes that they aren't the only ones that can make a competitor hand over prototypes (and I really don't understand how they managed to pull that off, I would think this would be a matter of handing over trade secrets and insider information) they'll think twice about doing it next time.
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Rob, 1 Jun 2011 @ 5:50am

As others have stated, I'm with Samsung on this one. If a competitor has the blueprints for your next prototype, either through industrial espionage or legal espionage, you're at a severe disadvantage in the market 12 months down the track. To level the playing field so Samsung can "just focus on competing in the marketplace" - this was a logical thing to do.
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DannyB (profile), 1 Jun 2011 @ 6:06am

Re:
The further HTC will get paying Microsoft patent royalties on every Android phone HTC sells.

That is because unlike Samsung, HTC rolled over for a patent bully.
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Cowardly Anon, 1 Jun 2011 @ 7:53am

Re: HAHA
Agreed. Apple through down the gauntlet in this case, not Samsung. They are just responding in the best way they can.

I also agree that the Galaxy S is better than the iPhone. I love my Galaxy, and my iPhone loving friend is thinking of changing over for his next phone after looking at mine for a bit.
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weneedhelp (profile), 1 Jun 2011 @ 9:28am

We need to switch it up
Instead of fighting the pro IP crowd we need to join them. Let them get all the innovation stifling laws passed as quickly as possible so it reaches the average sheeple of America. Let them make it so bad 1/3 of users get kicked off the internet. Let prices go through the roof. Maybe when the populace cant get medicine due to cost and start dying people will get mad enough to do something. (I know I am in fantasy land. Americans will never get the balls.)Maybe we need to get our elected officials to just put prices on how much it would take to get certain legislation passed or denied. Then we could at least try to get like minded ppl together to try and purchase legislation as the corporations do.
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Atkray (profile), 1 Jun 2011 @ 10:19am

It seems that the consensus opinion is that Apple started it and deserves it, and Samsung should fight back.

I'm not a sports fan but I've seen enough sporting events to know it is ALWAYS the second guy that gets the penalty.
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ChrisB (profile), 1 Jun 2011 @ 11:29am

Re: Re: HAHA
My Galaxy S is the best phone I've ever owned. An the fact I can make my own apps using App Inventor is icing.
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Jun 2011 @ 3:35pm

Re: HAHA
I agree. Apple started it, they should get skullf*cked to oblivion
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Jason, 2 Jun 2011 @ 11:08am

Re: HAHA
Yeah, if the opposition is running a discovery marathon, then you almost have to do the same in order to protect yourself, especially if the court denies protective orders to the contrary.
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keith (profile), 2 Jun 2011 @ 9:09pm

duh
"Why can't these two companies just focus on competing in the marketplace, and letting the best company win based on who's buying what?"

Because there is a *shitload* of money involved, that's why.
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iBelieve, 5 Jun 2011 @ 1:06pm

I love it that only a few commenters chimed in on this waste of resources, typical of what seems to be the norm anymore with this and that, fighting to the end, and in the end for what? I'll side with Samsung, just because Apple is obviously the instigator and will probably lose more by starting such a law suit, vanquished in the public eye.
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iBelieve, 5 Jun 2011 @ 1:11pm

Re: We need to switch it up
Your fantasyland is rooted in reality, sad as that is. Technically, its their money and corporate taxes being what they are..
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patent litigation, 6 Jun 2011 @ 2:55pm

schoolyard
Yes, patent litigation (for that matter, any type of litigation) can often devolve into schoolyard one-upmanship tactics. So what else is new?
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aikiwolfie (profile), 7 Jun 2011 @ 7:02am

Apple are just annoyed because their bubble universe just burst. Apparently Mac users have just discovered "full screen" applications. I mean seriously?
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