Samsung, the new Microsoft?

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Its all over the news. South Korean electronic giant Samsung lost a one billion dollar patent infringement lawsuit to US giant Apple Inc. Ironically, there’s a very good chance that the medium through which people are reading or hearing about it, could either be an iPhone, iPad, Galaxy tab or a Samsung-created smartphone. That is extent of the wide-spread presence both these companies have made.

In April 2011, Apple Inc. filed its patent infringement lawsuit, enlisting some of USA’s highest-paid patent lawyers to demand $2.5 billion from its top smartphone competitor. In return, Samsung Electronics Co. fired back with its own lawsuit seeking $399 million. The verdict, which came out almost a week ago, however, belonged to Apple as the jury rejected all Samsung’s claim against Apple. But jurors also decided against some of Apple’s claims, declining to award the full $2.5 billion Apple demanded. Samsung is finally expected to pay Apple $1.05 billion, although an appeal is expected.
The Internet has been set abuzz with debate and discussions of this rivalry, more so on social networking websites than by online media houses simply because the products these two giants produce are something that are personal, something that each and every individual owns and relates to, and one that could directly affect his or her prized possession.
Apple Inc. has time and again had to repel stiff competition for almost all of its products, most of them considered revolutionary in their own right. At first, it was the war of personal computers with Microsoft. Fast-forward to today’s world and it is the war of smartphones and tablets that has come to the fore. While Apple has managed to come ahead of each bout, this time, the patent verdict that went against Samsung might just give the South Korean giant the shove it needs, on the innovative front.
That might not read as good news for Apple, considering the fact that Samsung already overtook Apple as the leading smartphone producer not just in Asia, but the world.
The lawsuit might be a temporary setback for Samsung but with its fire power of 2,20,000 employees and 83 business divisions, expecting them to go down without a fight, would be unrealistic.