A marriage made in heaven or hell

Samsung Electronics and Apple have been busy this year churning out hot new cell phones — and then suing each other for alleged patent violations of the same products. The feud officially began in April, when Apple filed a lawsuit in the U.S. saying that Samsung products had copied some of its design patents. Samsung countered that its chief U.S. rival had also infringed on its technology patents in the communications field.

As the two companies vie to protect their patented designs and technologies, the countersuits are seen as attempts to secure a dominant position in this lucrative market.

Notably, the two companies are not just rivals, but are also entangled in a complicated supplier-buyer relationship as Apple purchases many of its core parts and components from Samsung. When Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away in October, some predicted this would pave the way for the two sides to reconcile and end their web of litigations in at least 10 countries. But when it comes to patents, Samsung and Apple were just not ready to kiss and make up this year.

korea joongAng daily

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A marriage made in heaven or hell

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