Samsung’s latest move in the mobile patents war comes from its display business, which is investing $25m to establish a patents licensing unit in Washington DC. Called Intellectual Keystone Technology (IKT), it is the Korean firm’s first activity dedicated solely to IPR, and reflects the likely value of its assets in LCD and OLED technologies.
“Samsung recently established IKT. Patents are a good source of innovation and we also need to protect our intellectual property by strengthening our patent related business,” a spokesman told Korea Times.
As well as housing the patents Samsung owns via its extensive R&D in displays, IKT has acquired over 100 new assets related to OLED and LCD, from Seiko Epson of Japan. Other purchases are likely to follow ‘ the spokeman added: “Companies should be paying licensing fees for patents. We are paying to platform providers such as Microsoft in return for using their patents. IKT will be tasked to find out which patents are helpful and valued for Samsung.’
The Korean giant recently dropped two long-running IPR legal battles with compatriot and close rival LG Display.
Of course, its most high profile patents wars have been with Apple, and one of the many cases in that saga is playing out at the US ITC (International Trade Commission). The agency this week sought more information before deciding whether some Samsung devices infringe Apple patents ‘ if so, they could face import bans in the US.
An earlier, preliminary ruling by ITC Judge Thomas Pender found that four patents were infringed, but such decisions are subject to review by the full ITC panel, which is looking for additional arguments from Pender on three of the items in question, and comments on how an injunction would affect the public.
If Apple wins the case, it is seeking to bar devices such as the Samsung Nexus 4G, Replenish and Intercept smartphones, and older models of the Galaxy Tab. The judge found that some of Samsung’s newer products, including the Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note, had worked around the patents, while the new Galaxy S4 has not been included in the case. A final decision is due on August 1.
The items at issue in this dispute are a design patent for the iPhone’s flat front face with wider borders at top and bottom; and three feature patents related respectively to multitouch, translucent image displays, and detection of headphone jacks.