This article was published on September 28, 2011

Samsung says Apple’s $8bn yearly spend stopped it pursuing patent fees


Samsung says Apple’s $8bn yearly spend stopped it pursuing patent fees

As part of its legal battle with smartphone and tablet rival Apple, Samsung reiterated its desire to seek a global sales ban on the upcoming iPhone 5, also admitting that it did not pursue patent licensing fees from the Cupertino-based company because of its huge investment in Samsung components, it was revealed on Wednesday.

Yonhap News reports that Samsung could “throw down the gauntlet” over Apple’s new iPhone, which is expected to be unveiled on October 4, according to a senior vice president who wished to remain anonymous, adding “it is true that Apple was free-riding on our mobile technologies.”

It appears that Apple’s partnership with Samsung to manufacture its processors, fabricate its display panels and provide Flash and DRAM memory kept the Korean electronics giant from pursuing patent licensing fees on its wireless patents, technologies that the company has filed a lawsuit to protect in The Netherlands:

So far, Samsung has not asked Apple for licensing fees on the mobile patents in question because Apple contributes some 10 trillion won in revenues for Samsung every year, the executive said.

The executive added:

“But our response will take a turn. Apple is not engaged in the lawsuits to get cross-licensing deals.

It’s a matter of pride for Apple. It probably wanted to give the impression that Samsung is copying (Apple).”

 

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Also tagged with


Published
Back to top