Pirates target Samsung cells

As Samsung Electronics Co. became the world’s third-largest mobile phone producer last year, it also became a target for the rising trade in the illegal copying of its products. According to technology research firm Dataquest, Samsung’s global market share rose to 9.8 percent last year from 7.1 percent the year before. Nokia, the Finnish firm, is ranked first in the market, with United States-based Motorola second. According to Samsung, it recently uncovered a company in California producing mobile phone cases illegally bearing its logo. It also found another company selling old Samsung mobile phones with new peripherals as new phone products, damaging the Korean firm’s brand image. Samsung said it would crack down on American firms producing and selling illegal copies of its phone products and accessories. “Even though we have spent 480 billion won ($400 million) promoting our brand image over the past two years, the number of illegally copied products has been increasing to the point where we now must take strong legal steps,” a samsung official said. by Kim Joung-yoon