US Judge Orders Apple To Share HTC Deal Details With Samsung 106
another random user writes with this news from the BBC: "A U.S. judge has ordered Apple to disclose details of its patent-sharing deal with HTC to its rival, Samsung. Apple and HTC signed a 10-year licence agreement earlier this month, but did not make the details public. Samsung, which is also involved in various patent disputes with Apple, asked the courts to tell Apple to furnish the information. It said it was 'almost certain' the deal covered some of the patents at the centre of its dispute with Apple. The court ordered Apple to produce a full copy of the settlement agreement 'without delay,' subject to an 'attorneys' eyes only' designation, meaning it will not be made public."
Its a start (Score:4, Interesting)
Eventually, make this whole patent/licensing/royalty an open market. The gov't grants you a patent. Fine. You get to decide what its worth. No problem. So, put up a 'For Sale' sign. You want $X per unit to use your technology. You accept that price from any buyers.
This would go a long way toward ending patents as a club to selectively beat competitors over the head. And once we put a stop to that nonsense, companies will be a lot less enamored with their patent portfolios.
Full marks for conjecture ... (Score:5, Interesting)
See:
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=2012112121031884 [groklaw.net] .
For those too lazy to follow a link, here is the gist:
"Earlier this month Samsung asked that the court force Apple to turn over its settlement agreement with HTC, and today US Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal granted that requested. According to Samsung, the document could play a vital role in determining whether it will need to take any of its products off the market in the wake of the $1.049 billion verdict Apple won back in August. If Apple licensed some of its unique user experience patents, Samsung argues, then Cupertino is clearly fine with competitors using that IP as long as it receives money in return â" and since Apple will be receiving a payout in connection with the verdict, the extra step of an injunction isn't justified."
In plain text: Apple: no injunctions for you and drop the damages you ask to what you can actually negotiate in the marketplace.
Want to bet that Apple isn't at all happy about this?
Re:Apple shot themselves in the foot... (Score:5, Interesting)
Nope. Acknowledging the quality of Apple's products does not make you a fanboy. Defending Apple's legal practices and bully approach regarding their distributors, competitors and customers does, though, especially when you are directly and negatively affected by it..
So I can acknowledging the quality of Apple's products is poor and not be called a "hater".
Yes I said it, the quality of Apple's products are poor, they break easily, are not designed for human use (back button in the top left corner) use low quality audio components and need I remind anyone of Antennagate (if you want to defend that, remember that your holding it wrong). But none of this bothers me. If all Apple did was sell crappy gadgets at exorbitant prices I wouldn't give a crap about them. What I don't like is the fact they want to sue anyone who makes a semi-successful competing product so I have no choice to buy their crappy gadgets.