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UK end user here. Is this case really a sensible way to divide up the market share for middle to high end smart phones? I mean what would be gained by the ordin

UK end user here. Is this case really a sensible way to divide up the market share for middle to high end smart phones? I mean what would be gained by the ordinary customer if Samsung lost and decided not to make phones any more as it wasn't worth the hassle? Am I being naive? I presume Apple does not want to compete in the low margin part of the market (which I imagine will see the largest growth as the higher end saturates).

jeremysmyth 13y ago
Am I being naive? Perhaps slightly! There are lots of "companies" that have their entire business model made up of copying someone else's IP (trademarks, designs, content). Back-of-a-van Asian DVDs, backstreet "Gucci" bags, etc. etc. Clamping down on them reduces consumer choice, but that's no reason not to clamp down on them.
- keithpeter 13y ago
  Oh yes of course, if only for safety reasons we have to prevent complete knock-offs (UK term) and 'passing off'. But are you really suggesting the huge Samsung slabs that some of my students have as phones are a total knock off of an iPhone (that some of my other students have)? What I'm thinking is what would be the benefit to people generally of Samsung being basically banned from selling phones in the US? Would people really buy more iPhones or would they just turn to cheaper Android based phones, or to Windows phones by Nokia/Microsoft say? I understand that the US likes its legal correctness and argument, but at the end of the day you want some competition don't you?
  - chrismcb 13y ago
    You are asking the wrong questions. Samsung isn't being accused of "knocking off" an iphone. They are accused of copying SOME of the functionality of the iphone. Also, this isn't about consumers (directly) AS you are right, if Samsung decided to stop making phones, users would have fewer phones to choose from. It is indirectly about consumers though, as Apple may have never ventured down the path to creating the iPhone if they couldn't patent some of it.

jeremysmyth 13y ago

Am I being naive? Perhaps slightly! There are lots of "companies" that have their entire business model made up of copying someone else's IP (trademarks, designs, content). Back-of-a-van Asian DVDs, backstreet "Gucci" bags, etc. etc. Clamping down on them reduces consumer choice, but that's no reason not to clamp down on them.

keithpeter 13y ago
Oh yes of course, if only for safety reasons we have to prevent complete knock-offs (UK term) and 'passing off'. But are you really suggesting the huge Samsung slabs that some of my students have as phones are a total knock off of an iPhone (that some of my other students have)? What I'm thinking is what would be the benefit to people generally of Samsung being basically banned from selling phones in the US? Would people really buy more iPhones or would they just turn to cheaper Android based phones, or to Windows phones by Nokia/Microsoft say? I understand that the US likes its legal correctness and argument, but at the end of the day you want some competition don't you?
- chrismcb 13y ago
  You are asking the wrong questions. Samsung isn't being accused of "knocking off" an iphone. They are accused of copying SOME of the functionality of the iphone. Also, this isn't about consumers (directly) AS you are right, if Samsung decided to stop making phones, users would have fewer phones to choose from. It is indirectly about consumers though, as Apple may have never ventured down the path to creating the iPhone if they couldn't patent some of it.