Apple’s unreasonable patent claim

(NNPA)—In December, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit heard arguments in the long- running patent war between Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. over claims that the South Korean tech firm infringed upon Apple’s design patents. While that case has been broadly discussed, there is another case with the same parties that has garnered less attention but could have severe consequences. This time, Apple is claiming loss of market share and injury to its “reputation for innovation”—all because of Samsung’s alleged infringements.
For consumers, and particularly minorities, this case raises important questions of business competition, innovation, and social justice. That’s why the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) recently filed a brief in support of Samsung’s position. Patents serve a very useful purpose for protecting companies that innovate and invest in new technologies and products. But care should be taken to prevent a company from using its self-proclaimed “reputation for innovation” to “leverage” its patents for competitive gain far beyond what the intrinsic value of the patent warrants.