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Samsung goes after Apple again with a new lawsuit filed in South Korea

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by Robert Nazarian on
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The battle between Samsung and Apple doesn’t appear to be losing any steam as Samsung filed another lawsuit in South Korea claiming the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 infringes on three of its patents. The three patents are utility-based and involves methods of displaying data, the user interface, and short text messages.

If you’re into stats, so far Samsung and Apple’s battle royal has made it’s way to 10 different countries with over 30 cases. Pretty amazing when you consider Apple is a customer of Samsung.

source: reuters

 

Google/Motorola Ordered To Relinquish Development Data To Apple

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by Josh O'Donnell on
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The lawsuit wars continue between Apple and Google and Motorola. U.S. Circuit Judge Richard Posner ruled yesterday that Motorola and Google must hand over details on the development of Google’s Android operating system as well as information regarding the recent [pending] acquisition of Motorola by Google. Apple’s lawyers claim “The Android/Motorola acquisition discovery is highly relevant to Apple’s claims and defenses”, but Motorola has opposed the request, stating “Google’s employees and documents are not within the ‘possession, custody, or control’ of Motorola, and Motorola cannot force Google to produce documents or witnesses over Google’s objections.”

So there we have it, another interesting twist in the tech-giant soap opera drama that is Apple vs. The World. We’re sure to see more from Apple as time goes on, especially since the Google/Motorola acquisition poses an immediate threat to the company.

source: bloomberg

Landmark Victory: Judge Rules In Favor Of AT&T Customer For “Unlimited Data” Throttling

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by Roy Alugbue on
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Score one for the little guys. AT&T’s controversial “unlimited” data plan has made some noise in recent weeks. Since announcing they would begin reducing speeds for certain customers with the coveted unlimited data plan last year, it had since gotten an immense amount of criticism from many customers and even the media. After all, how can AT&T throttle data speeds for unlimited customers who pay the exact same a comparable amount to those who are on a tiered data (3GB/month) plan. Of course AT&T thinks its policies aren’t that bad, but one customer believes the policies are atrocious and had enough, so he decided to fight back.

AT&T customer Matt Spaccarelli decided to take action by taking AT&T to small claims court. He has the unlimited data plan and was being throttled by AT&T. He also contends his data speeds were being throttled, despite only using 1.5GB to 2GB of data per month and using by doing some thorough research, laid his claims and arguments before a judge arguing what AT&T is doing is wrong. AT&T countered by highlighting it is free to change the terms of its contracts or even end them outright, if it decided that the subscriber was causing adverse network usage. Judge Russell Nadel accepted the argument of Spaccarelli and granted him victory. Spaccarelli was awarded $850 which will go towards the remainder of his contract— or about $85 for 10 months.

Let this be a lesson for AT&T: customers aren’t happy and they’re willing to do something about your business practices. As an AT&T unlimited data customer myself and the victim of a threatening “text message warning” about my data usage, I can’t help but feel justice for all of us who are bullied by Ma Bell. Let’s hope it gets its act together, otherwise it will continue to lose support and ultimately customers.

(Photo courtesy of Synaptic Storage)

source: Google News
via: Phandroid

 

Apple Targets The Galaxy Nexus, Requests Preliminary Injunction

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by Josh O'Donnell on
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Well, Apple is at it again! This time, the fruit giant has its sights set on the Galaxy Nexus. On Thursday, the public redacted version was made with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and became available on Friday. Apple’s motion against the Galaxy Nexus relates to four patents:

  1. The “data tapping” patent of which the ITC ordered an import ban against HTC
  2. A patent related to Siri and unified search
  3. A new slide-to-unlock patent
  4. A word completion patent that provides major speed enhancements to text input

It’s said to be that number 1 is of the most danger to Samsung, based on precedent in the HTC case as well as the fact that Android actually infringes on this at the operating system level (opposed to implemented by OEMs like Sense and TouchWiz). Although some of these new filings will actually hold a strong case against Samsung and Google, hit the break for my spin on the Apple patent circus.
» Read the rest

Google Loses Appeal Over Trial Period in Taiwan

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by Josh O'Donnell on
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In June of last year, the Taiwanese government issued a complaint to multiple companies including Microsoft and Apple, defending a certain law they have in place that details anything downloaded from the internet must be subject to a mandatory seven-day trial period in which the user can request a complete refund. Both Apple and Microsoft yielded, complying with the Taiwanese law. Google however, argued that users have ample time – even within the 15 minute window Google allows – to use the app and determine whether or not they want a refund.

As a result, Google was fined NT$1,000,000 (about $34,000 US), which they appealed. Google’s final appeal ended yesterday, and it didn’t bear any good news for the internet giant. The Taiwanese government gave a statement, saying “We urge Google to respect Taiwan’s laws and the rights of our consumers to resume sales of its Android Market paid apps.”

Google’s been fairly quiet thus far, but it’s only been a day. I don’t believe they’re necessarily too worried about it, though. Do you?

Source: India Times

EU regulators start investigation with Samsung over antitrust concerns

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by Robert Nazarian on
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If being in court every day over patent issues in 10 countries isn’t enough, now EU regulators are investigating whether Samsung Electronics breached antitrust rules by accusing rivals such as Apple of infringing its technology patents.

Last year, Samsung filed for injunctions in several EU countries againt competitors for infringing patents. Back in 1998 Samsung pledged to license its patents to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.

“The (European) Commission will investigate, in particular, whether in doing so (seeking injunctions on patent infringements in 2011) Samsung has failed to honor its irrevocable commitment given in 1998 to the European Telecommunications Standards,” the EU executive said.

» Read the rest

Microsoft Signs Another Agreement, Pantech Is Latest To Pay For Patents

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by Roy Alugbue on
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Microsoft has just notched yet another one under its belt. After announcing a patent deal with LG just last week, Microsoft is not content with signing deals invovling 70 percent of all Android smartphones in the US having licensing deals. Microsoft went full speed ahead and signed yet another agreement with a manufacturer, this time setting up an agreement with Pantech. The perceived reasoning is Pantech perhaps wants to avoid any sign of legal trouble with Microsoft by agreeing to sign a licensing deal and settling things upfront with the Redmond giant. The terms of the new agreement have not yet surfaced, so look for further information to trickle out sooner than later.

[via Mobile Syrup by Engadget]

Apple Files Another Lawsuit Against Samsung, This Time Targets Galaxy S II and Nine Handsets In German Court

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by Roy Alugbue on
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In another turn of events with the never-ending drama between Apple and Samsung, Apple has decided to go on the offensive… again, this time in the Dusseldorf Regional Court in Germany. In this chapter, Apple is seeking to you guessed it— ban a total of 10 handsets, including the Samsung Galaxy S II.

The Cupertino giant isn’t stopping there either. Apple also started a separate suit against five Samsung tablet computer models related to a September ruling banning the Galaxy 10.1. All of this despite Samsung making changes to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 after the original German court ruling. It’s starting to get difficult to keep tabs on all of the various suits between the two companies. There’s always another twist to the heated fight, then another, then another… and then another. 

The new lawsuit is still developing, so stay tuned with Talk Android for any updates.

[via Bloomberg]

The Problem With Patents (Infographic)

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by Roy Alugbue on
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You’re tired of seeing those patent slapfights, we get it. Everyday you see something here, something there and everything in between. Of course no sides of the patent battles feels neither unjust nor wrong, so we as the consumer are left to watch in disbelief. Well there are some individuals who are sick of patent wars in the United States and decided to do something about it— in a satirical way of course. The fine team at Frugal Dad created a sweet infographic highlighting the current state of the patent system in the U.S. It is certainly worth a look too. Hit the break to see the full infographic strip in all its glory. » Read the rest

FCC To AT&T’s Intended Acquisition of T-Mobile: What’s The Rush AT&T? Let’s Review This A Little More

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by Roy Alugbue on
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Federal Communications Commission Chair Julius Genachowski just put a ‘not-so-fast kind sir’ on AT&T’s intentions to acquire T-Mobile. Perhaps the FCC heard the growing concerns from other carriers and decided to pursue further investigation of the deal. Genachowski recently drafted up a letter to FCC commissioners arguing “the deal would significantly diminish competition and lead to massive job losses”. Sounds like this is exactly in line with Sprint’s clear stance that was voiced earlier in the year.

Not surprisingly, AT&T responded to the FCC’s actions. Senior VP of Corporate Communications Larry Solomon highlights “it is yet another example of a government agency acting to prevent billions in new investment and the creation of many thousands of new jobs at a time when the U.S. economy desperately needs both”. AT&T will not doubt review the actions and defend itself all the while trying to convince the FCC that the intended merger will be no harm, no foul. The AT&T-Mobile drama just keeps unfolding. Let’s see how the intense lobbying done by Sprint the FCC will impact this deal moving forward.

[via Reuters]

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