Bonum Certa Men Certa

Microsoft Ban Success, Apple Ban Failure, Apple Must Apologise

Apple logo - think different



Summary: Microsoft uses software patents to ban Linux-powered devices whereas Apple fails to do so and moreover it is forced to publicly apologise

IN ITS fight against Motorola (Google-owned for this part), Microsoft has banned particular products because of Microsoft's deviation from standards, although it's a little baffling. Let this teach us about the harms of OOXML for example:



In its own words: "In view of the ITC exclusion order which becomes effective Wednesday with respect to the single ActiveSync patent upheld in Microsoft's ITC-744 proceeding, Motorola has taken proactive measures to ensure that our industry-leading smartphones remain available to consumers in the U.S. We respect the value of intellectual property and expect other companies to do the same."


Apple is also trying to stop Android although its approach is slightly different. To quote a critic, "Apple is desperate to not let Samsung devices reach consumer's hands. How far do you think Apple will go to 'enforce' a court order? Sky is the limit. Apple started sending out legal warning to retailers across the US to stop selling Samsung Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Nexus phones. Apple did this even when the same court issued a temporary suspension of the ban."

Here is more criticism from the same critic:

Did Apple Call Galaxy Nexus A Stolen, Pirated And Counterfeit Product?



[...]

Apple is stooping to a whole new level. The company is evidently scared of competition in the mobile and is using every legal means to 'kill' Android.

The same company which stole UI from Xerox, whose founder shamelessly admitted that they had been shameless about stealing ideas from other companies is putting the Galaxy Nexus phone in the category of 'stolen, pirated, counterfeit, or infringing products.'


News suggests that "Galaxy S3 bumps Samsung's lead over Apple", so no wonder Apple is nervous. Samsung itself is acquiring more patent ammunition and here is the latest:

The S-Wallet has opened and absorbed $310 million-worth of connectivity and location patents from British chip company CSR, which already supplies SiRF GPS chips to Galaxy devices. In addition to boosting its patent portfolio, Samsung also invested $34 million to buy a five percent stake in the firm itself, giving it access to a large development team working on audio, automotive, indoor location and other functions.


Sadly for Apple, it is "ordered to run Samsung 'did not copy iPad' adverts" to clarify that "Samsung Didn't Copy Apple":

A judge in Britain is forcing Apple to publicly acknowledge that Samsung didn't copy the iPad, according to a report by Bloomberg.

A judge has ordered Apple to post a notice on its website and in "several" British newspapers and magazines highlighting a recent ruling that Samsung didn't copy the iPad.


Samsung has unique devices and it gave society far more innovation (in hardware) than Apple. Nevertheless, we resent Samsung for paying Microsoft for Linux.

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