PublishedAugust 6, 2014

Apple and Samsung Begin to Wind Down the Smartphone Wars

As we’ve written a number of times (e.g., herehere, and here), nothing good has come out of the war between Apple and Samsung. Both companies have spent millions and neither has much to show for it. The big losers, of course, have been consumers, who could be enjoying better products: products that could have been built using the resources wasted on patent infringement lawsuits.

Now it seems that Apple is beginning to recognize this and step back from its position of “thermonuclear war” on Android. Apple and Samsung have reportedly agreed to drop all of their cases against each other outside the U.S.

Of course that still leaves several U.S. cases pending. But it’s a good start.

Let’s hope the parties can settle the rest of their disputes soon and get back to making more cool stuff that we can buy.

Matt Levy

Previously, Matt was patent counsel at the Computer & Communications Industry Association

Josh Landau

Patent Counsel, CCIA

Joshua Landau is the Patent Counsel at the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), where he represents and advises the association regarding patent issues.  Mr. Landau joined CCIA from WilmerHale in 2017, where he represented clients in patent litigation, counseling, and prosecution, including trials in both district courts and before the PTAB.

Prior to his time at WilmerHale, Mr. Landau was a Legal Fellow on Senator Al Franken’s Judiciary staff, focusing on privacy and technology issues.  Mr. Landau received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.S.E.E. from the University of Michigan.  Before law school, he spent several years as an automotive engineer, during which time he co-invented technology leading to U.S. Patent No. 6,934,140.

Follow @PatentJosh on Twitter.

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