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Samsung exec: Apple is fighting over rectangles

by on31 July 2012



Patented rectangles that is


A Samsung exec has lashed out against Apple, accusing the Cupertino based company of abusing the broken US patent system to stifle the competition.

In an interview with Wired, Samsung’s Chief Product Officer Kevin Packingham said that the Korean tech giant is not struggling with actual tech patents, but rather with design patents. He described some patents as “board” which is an understatement.

“For us, it’s unreasonable that we’re fighting over rectangles, that that’s being considered as an infringement, which is why we’re defending ourselves,” he told Wired.

Packingham stressed that it is unreasonable to claim that rectangles can be protected property.

“We have design patents as well, but they’re not as simple as the rectangle,” he said. “Consumers want rectangles and we’re fighting over whether you can deliver a product in the shape of a rectangle.”

Packingham argued that the industry needs to collectively solve issues arising from the broken patent system and preserve healthy competition, without stifling it with patents that aren’t particularly unique. Apparently the trouble is that some companies are less reasonable than others.

“In the current environment, there’s just one company that’s firing the first shot consistently. Most everybody else seems to be getting along really well,” he said.

More here.


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