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back to article Samsung persuades US watchdog to review Smartflash legal dance over patents

Apple may end up getting a helping hand from its mega smartphone rival Samsung, after the South Korean electronics giant convinced US regulators to look at two Smartflash LLC patents. In February, Cupertino was ordered to pay nearly half a billion dollars to Texas-based patent licensing company Smartflash after a jury found …

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  1. This post has been deleted by its author

    1. The_Idiot
      Reply Icon

      And, based on a rather...

      ... large number of posts here, neither should a gazillion other patents have been issued by the same orifice. So why these two, and not the other gazillion-2?

      Of course, I'm sure there's a reason. After all, I'm an Idiot (blush).

      1 1 Reply

      1. This post has been deleted by its author

        1. The_Idiot
          Reply Icon

          Re: And, based on a rather...

          Sir, my apology for my poor phrasing :-). The question, rhetorical or otherwise, wasn't directed at you, but at the less than beloved (to me at least) US Patent Orifice, as I should have made more clear (blush).

          2 0 Reply
      2. Anonymous Coward
        Reply Icon
        Anonymous Coward

        Why these two?

        Because a troll is using them to try to extort billions from other companies. There's no point in reviewing the "method for swinging sideways" or "method for exercising a cat" patents because the patent holder isn't trying to abuse them. They just filed those patents to show how low the bar is.

        I'm surprised that Apple wasn't able to get these patents reviewed previously, but the fact Samsung has done so probably means they were next on Smartflash's hit list. If people ask "why didn't Apple settle instead of going to trial" it is because if the patents are invalidated Apple owes nothing. If Apple settles they'll still owe the money (unless Smartflash agreed to a clause that says they don't if the patents are invalidated - which no troll will EVER agree to)

        0 0 Reply
  2. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge

    The Enemy of my Enemy is my friend

    or something like that.

    0 0 Reply
    1. Swarthy
      Reply Icon

      Re: The Enemy of my Enemy is my friend

      Maxim 29: The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more. No less.

      0 0 Reply
  3. Mark 85

    Self-Preservation and not altruistic?

    I wonder if this is because Sammy feels it's in the cross-hairs for litigation on those two patents... Logically, if those two get tossed, the door is open to look at the rest of the portfolio.

    2 0 Reply
  4. Brent Beach

    Not only are the patents silly - prior art all over the place - but the venues in which these trials take place are special. A few courts in rural texas that are famous for big settlements on patents.

    A failed patent system and a failed legal system.

    Brought to you by the leader of the free world.

    7 0 Reply
  5. ratfox
    Mushroom

    Texas Eastern district-based patent licensing company Smartflash

    FTFY

    And stopped reading there.

    0 1 Reply
  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    When Apple is involved

    It's quite astonishing when Apple is on the wrong end of things how fast the US Patent and Trademark Office review broad is galvanised into action. Must be all those free ipads, iphones and macs that gets things moving.

    0 3 Reply
    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: When Apple is involved

      Eh? Read the story, this is Samsung not Apple. It is only that Apple might also benefit.

      0 0 Reply
      1. Anonymous Coward
        Reply Icon
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: When Apple is involved

        Why do appletards have to hide ?

        Apple to Samsung - Back us up or you lose the chip contract.

        0 1 Reply
  7. Terry Cloth

    ``Texas-based patent licensing company Smartflash''?

    Did someone yank your chain over calling spades spades, and patent trolls likewise?

    0 0 Reply

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