Comments on: Apple hoards LTE patents to deflect possible Samsung attack on iPhone 5

By: l3it3r

l3it3r — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:51:44 +0000

The iPhone was only ‘dethroned’ in the recent quarter. For one reason. The new one is announced tomorrow and people are waiting for it. The S3 might sell 20 million devices in 4-6 months, the iPhone 5 is expected to sell through 45 Million in the first 3 months.

By: taosbob

taosbob — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:34:36 +0000

“top-selling smartphone” is a fairly dodgy term, especially given the vagueness and indirect way that Samsung statistics have been reported. For instance, is it a “sale” when Samsung gives away (as they are now doing) a Galaxy S iII in China with avery major appliances purchase? I think if you look at “smart phone” profit figures, the story is a bit different

By: ppctyler

ppctyler — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 05:15:06 +0000

Samsung innovate. Oxymoron!

By: iShart

iShart — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 05:04:03 +0000

Sad to see apple scrambling to keep up with Samsung these days. With the iphone recently dethroned as the top selling smartphone, it’s no wonder Apple had to sue. If Apple can’t innovate like Samsung, they kick em in the wallet, just like they do their sheep customers.

By: KarlV

KarlV — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 19:39:56 +0000

Good. Hope Apple continue to shore up its patent portfolio. Samsung SHALL NOT PASS!

By: Jax44

Jax44 — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 18:40:17 +0000

“Frand, baby, Frand, Patent Inferno…”
Travolta’s newest

By: HUYA™

HUYA™ — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:28:46 +0000

“The last major asset of Nortel, approximately 6,000 patents and patent applications encompassing technologies such as wireless, wireless 4G, data networking, optical, voice, Internet, and semiconductors, was sold for $4.5 billion to a consortium including Apple, EMC, Ericsson, Microsoft, Research In Motion, and Sony.” Look out Sammy!

By: The Other Steve

The Other Steve — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:21:14 +0000

But, but, but, Samsung is saying that the courts outside the U.S. are all siding with Samsung!

By: Lochias

Lochias — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:31:59 +0000

Me, too, but the number often quoted for 3G is higher.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G

By: daugav369pils

daugav369pils — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:27:35 +0000

If my math is correct, there are about 6,500 patents
on LTE technology? That I find hard to believe.

By: Lochias

Lochias — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:26:10 +0000

Patents encumbered by FRAND, yes. As a defense, FRAND has been a powerhouse.

Samsung lost its three FRAND cases in Germany, and cases in Italy, France, and the US (all v. Apple). Motorola won in the short term in Mannheim, but the victory was stayed by the appeals court. It looks likely to lose v. Microsoft in the pending ITC case.

Yet these boys keep swinging.

By: Lochias

Lochias — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:20:37 +0000

The article references and numbers are for “LTE standard patents registered with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.”

If they are not registered, and subject to FRAND, they are not required for LTE devices or service.

By: breeze

breeze — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:19:53 +0000

FRAND abuse consequenses and Apple’s hermonuclear canons aimed at the heart of Samsung will not miss.

Samsung’ s DNA is stealing and copying, Apple’s is innovating and rvolutionizing.

DNA evidence exonorates the innocent and convicts the guilty.

By: 0zzie9O3

0zzie9O3 — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:07:20 +0000

I don’t believe the article said these are FRAND patents … certainly not all of them.

I see that #2 LTE patent holder InterDigital has a market cap of $1.4 billion. So it is not impossible for Apple to acquire its LTE patents or even the entire company … in which Apple would be the #1 LTE patent holder.

By: peterblood71

peterblood71 — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:02:41 +0000

FRAND as a legal weapon is as a gun loaded with blanks and shot at a distance.

By: Lochias

Lochias — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:43:11 +0000

How do standards-essential patents help Apple or anyone in a patent war? Contrary to the bizarre “one bullet to kill” dreams of Motorola and Samsung, they are worth nothing in a hold up, because most judges read the law and honor the FRAND agreements made by the holders.

And if they don’t, the appellate courts and, more importantly, the anti-trust agencies, do.