Fraudulent minds think alike; sign software patent deals

W

e have been through this more than once before [1, 2]. Samsung was caught in the midst of a huge scandal and even its chairman was personally involved. He not only quit the company but he is now going to prison.

The ex-chairman of South Korean firm Samsung, Lee Kun-hee, has been found guilty of tax evasion in Seoul and given a three-year suspended jail term.

[...]

The charges followed a three-month investigation into alleged corruption at South Korea's biggest conglomerate.

Lee, one of South Korea's richest men, had headed Samsung for two decades before his resignation from the chairmanship in April.

Remember that Samsung signed a Linux-hostile deal under Kun-hee's leadership.

A noteworthy thing is the similarity between Samsung's business practices and those of Microsoft. For instance, information about Microsoft's tax evasion you'll find in [1, 2]. Lest we forget other mischiefs, including the recent crusade of corruption, all in the name of lock-in. There are some other questionably-criminal activities here and here. Windows Vista too is still blushing at the courtroom after collusions.

It almost seems as though there is more justice in Korea than in supposedly 'more civilised' parts of the world. Had justice prevailed in the west, governments would not handle Microsoft so submissively and cowardly. Then again, enforcement of the law typically boils down to political manipulation (or corruption). ⬆

“Did you know that there are more than 34,750 registered lobbyists in Washington, D.C., for just 435 representatives and 100 senators? That's 64 lobbyists for each congressperson.”

--CIO.com

Disclosure: My father traded with and distributed Samsung electronics almost exclusively for 20 years, so there hardly any bias against the company.