“Samsung could face a $15 billion fine in Europe alone for using ‘standard-essential’ patents in its attempts to ban devices like the iPhone in its ongoing patent battle with Apple,” Zach Epstein reports for BGR.
“The Guardian reports that the European commission could impose a massive fine of up to 10% of Samsung’s global turnover following its investigation into Samsung’s use of standard-essential patents in complaints filed against Apple in Europe,” Epstein reports. “Samsung’s revenue totaled $148.9 billion in 2011, so fines in Europe alone could reach $14.8 billion.”
Epstein reports, “Samsung withdrew its motion asking to ban sales of the iPhone and iPad across Europe last week, just days before the European Commission made its objections to Samsung’s use of standard-essential patents public.”
Read more in the full article here.
Smooth move, Ex-Lax.
I should not have laughed at that nearly as hard as I did. Like I was nine again.
I agree, my ice tea shot right out of my nose when I read the article. I love when bad things happen to bad people. Not to mention a bunch of copycats trying to steal Apples tech by using unfair essential patents extortion. Get that checkbook ready SamDung!!
This could be the funding for the next Bail out of Greece. Go get them Europe 🙂
Yeah, I was thinking the E.U. must be looking for an “external” source of revenue. Samsung stepped right into it… Kinda makes the $1.05B that Samsung owes Apple look almost trivial.
government fining a company does set a precedent tho…
but yes Samsung has abused FRAND…
AND YES… EU wants the money…
Too bad this isnt making news in the U.S…. unless this goes through…
Thanks to this good news new year has arrived early for me, looking foreward to 2013 and samsung being kicked where the sun never shines 🙂
lets see how they slither out of this one.
If you, inside Slamdung, decided to file FRAND infringmeent against Apple and wound up being responsible for a $15Billion fine, what job do you think you would get next?
Coudda.Woudda. Shouldda. And this report merely speculates. The sky could fall too.The European Commission doesn’t have the balls even if they do find Samsung guilty.
Try telling Microsoft and Google that, they had to pay quite a bit to the EU lately.
Surely that 15 Billion could be put to much better use elsewhere. So why does this happen in the first place? The CEO wants to pursue it, the lawyers say “bad idea” and the CEO slams his fist down and says to do it anyway. And now they go running away from the EU Killer Rabbit with their jackal tails between their legs. Great strategy.
OK U.S., step up to the plate and teach these crooks a lesson.
To sum it up in two words: Never happen.
No way anyone is going to give Apple that much money. Mostly everyone is desperately trying to take money from Apple just on general principle.
That money is not going to Apple, EU will take it.
Honestly, THAT would be the best Christmas present ever.
In the words of Captain Hikaru Sulu: “Target that explosion, and fire!”
Mmmmm. I love the taste of schadenfreude in the morning.
Samsung has to sell a lot of fridges to make up for that