Samsung and Apple Patent Portfolio featured WIPS Global Advanced (3)


Samsung and Apple Patent Portfolio featured WIPS Global Advanced (1),
Samsung and Apple Patent Portfolio featured WIPS Global Advanced (2)

[Figure 3] Patent application procedure classification (IPC code and Locarno Classification)

Samsung and Apple show some differences in open innovation strategies.  Samsung’s joint patent application rate is 4 % among entire patent applications.  Samsung applies and researches mainly with domestic universities and public organizations. Apple’s joint application is less than 1%, its lack of joint researches compared to Samsung.

    [Figure 4] Samsung's joint application procedure

     
Patent assignment activity shows that Samsung assigned 1 million cases of US patent in last 10 years. The major applicants were HP, AST Res., Xerox, Honeywell, and Hitachi.  Samsung purchased semiconductor device, display, and network related patents. 
On the other hand, Apple assigned around 2,600 cases of patents throughout the past 10 years.  The number is not as high as Samsung’s, but it corresponds to 50% of the Apple’s entire patent applications and 30% of Apple’s patent portfolio. Apple’s assigned patents are pre-owned by Object Tech Licensing, Taligent, Intrinsity, P.A., SEMI.  Apple also purchased patents from mobile specialized NPEs (Non-Practicing Entity), CVON Innovations.  Apple is securing its patents and technologies through various routes.  


[Figure 5] Main Assignors of Samsung vs Apple

4. Conclusion
We compared overall technology strategies and patent reserving strategies of both companies based on  their patent application procedure by WGA (WIPS Global Advanced) in recent 10 years.
Samsung has been reducing the domestic patent suits and instead securing international patents. Apple is improving its inadequate existing patent portfolios by expanding the number of patents. In addition, Apple is strengthening technology portfolios by using more active ways such as M&A and joint venture investment.

It is  worth to monitor the competing situations between Samsung and Apple in the field of wireless network technologies because both companies increased the number of patent applications in that field according to the analysis. The analysis also shows both companies’ fields of concentration during 2007 to 2012;  Samsung’s include fuel cell, Bio, LED, and medical devices, and Apple’s include design related patents such as UI.
It is expected to see that Samsung will improve its design and UI related patents, and Apple will secure the wireless network technologies to supplement its  technological vulnerability

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