Samsung and google, signed for cross-licensing!

Samsung and Google signed on broad cross licensing agreement 
which allows both sides to have access to each other’s patent portfolio, 

as well as patents will be filed in next 10 years.

This cross licensing covering range is broad, from technology to business field in general, 
and this seems to be an important reinforcement for Samsung  in patent litigation with Apple.

Flickr.com (Robert Scoble)

 Last 2011, Google acquired Motorola to have a access to patents owned by Motorola.

Motorola was a leading player in the initial phone manufacturing market, 
owned various cell phone related patents. 
By reaching this agreement, Samsung can use all these patents now.

Flickr.com (Stereopoly Blog)

Samsung extended licensing agreement with Microsoft in 2011, and extended licensing deal with Nokia as well in last year. Samsung’s licensing partner list does not end here, 
it includes IBM, Kodak, Intellectual Ventures, and Inter digital too.

Flickr.com (toprankonlinemarketing)

Google has been an ally with Samsung rather than a foe. Google supported Samsung indirectly, heuristics patent of Apples, so called Jobs patent, was invalidated in court last time, it was due to retrial application by Google. In addition to this, Google supported Samsung through many ways, such as providing legal advice, investigation of materials, securing evidences, and etc.

Flick.com (John Karaktsanis)

By signing this cross licensing, it is expected now that Google got a big potential to develop its own device technology of android operating system by applying its patent technologies to Samsung’s hardware products, such as Samsung mobile, Smart TV, and etc.

Samsung said in their statement, this cross licensing “would lead to deeper collaboration on research and development of current and future projects.”, and its counterpart from Google also agreed, 

“By working together on agreement like this, 
companies can reduce the potential for litigation and focus instead on innovation.”

Flickr.com (osde8info)

This collaboration seems to bring multiple benefits to both patent giants, not only in reducing the possibility of being embroiled in patent disputes, but also in improvement of related technology.  As Samsung stated, “Samsung and Google are showing the rest of the industry that there is more to gain from cooperating than engaging in unnecessary patent disputes”, World Smartphone No.1 player Samsung and Software & Search field leading player Google, hope two big giants’ collaboration will influence whole industry in a positive way.

Mobile game ‘Candy Crush Saga’, Candy is trademarked now!

In Korea, mobile game ‘Candy Crush Saga’ became rapidly popular among smartphone users once it is linked with ‘Kakaotalk’. Many people downloaded it in their smartphones, 

and it is not difficult to see people playing it in the subway or in their spare times. 

‘Candy Crush Saga’ has millions of fans not only in Korea，around the world.

King.com

Last year February, ‘King’, videogame maker of ‘Candy Crush Saga’, filed an application of ‘Candy’ trademark for game and clothing. US trademark office approved the filing of ‘King’, last month 15th. 

Albeit US trademark office approved it, people can file an objection for 1 month from 15^th 

as time left till it will be published.

This approval put other game developer companies in obstinate predicament, game developers who has used ‘Candy’ word in their applications were forced to change the title of games or need to prove 

that they did not infringe upon ‘candy’ trademark.

USPTO.gov

Actually application developer companies already got a notice via Apple telling that they infringed upon ‘Candy’ trademark of ‘King’. Notice requested that they need to stop the service infringing upon ‘Candy’ trademark, or they need to prove that they did not infringe upon it. 

This notice initiated many game developers’ opposition.  

candycrushsaga.com

Benney Hsu, game developer of ‘All Candy Casino Slot’, addressed that this notice makes many game developer frustrated and annoyed. He insisted that contents of games are different, but only because they are involving candy word and now it becomes trademark infringement.  They asserted that ‘Candy’ is a very common word, as it is being used in sweet manufacturing business to be differentiated from other merchandises, not from other products.

Flickr.com(MeLY3o)

However, ‘King’ contended that “‘All Candy Casino Slot’ was a calculated attempt to use other companies’ IP to enhance its own games, through means such as search rankings.” 

And “is likely lead to customer confusion and damage our brand”.

King has been actively taking actions against other game companies which are deemed to be infringing upon its IP rights since last year, by filing a suit or by other means, 

thus King seems to gain even more momentum by this ‘Candy’ being trademarked.    

In Korea, ‘Anipang 2’, smartphone game released not long time ago, is embroiled in a controversy that it copied ‘Candy Crush Saga’. Currently King established a corporate body to provide a service linked with ‘Kakaotalk’ in Korea, so now people’s interest is focusing on how King will react to this.

corp.sundaytoz.com

Protection of IR rights owner is important, of course, however, many things require careful consideration in this debate. Revenue of ‘Candy Crush Saga’ is about 1 million US dollar per day, despite of it being free download game, and it is not difficult to infer from that this game is brining huge profit to King and Apple.

Protection of legitimate IP rights and very common word ‘Candy’ being trademarked which might hide the underlying motive of pursuing economic profit, 

drawing a certain line between being legitimate and being reasonable seems to provoke furious debates. 

And this is why King’s response in the future is a hot potato which we should pay more attention.

Excuses for Not Obtaining Copyright Permission(From www.copyrightlaws.com)

Today, WIPS read a very interesting and witty article, I would like to share it with more people, so I brought the article from 'www.copyrightlaws.com'.

Source:
http://www.copyrightlaws.com/libraries/excuses-for-not-obtaining-copyright-permission/

8 Excuses for Not Getting Copyright Permission

We have all heard excuses for not obtaining copyright permission prior to using a copyright-protected work. We may even have uttered some of the excuses set out below. Do you have a favorite excuse or one not mentioned below? Please share it by adding a comment at the end of this post.

I found it online.

• Not all online content is in the public domain. Always assume that online content is protected by copyright.

I was in a hurry.

• Nothing in copyright law allows use without permission just because the consumer/user is in a hurry and must get a document to print or to include content in slides.

My boss told me to copy it.

• If your boss didn’t provide you with a written warranty that s/he will be liable if you get caught infringing, this may be the time to stand up to your boss.

I’ll never get caught.

• So you know you should be obtaining permission. Everyone thinks they will never get caught…until they do.

It’s for education.

• Not all uses for educational purposes fall within an exception in copyright law.

It’s for internal use.

• Whether you are using content internally or publicly, you still need to obtain permission from the copyright owner.

It has a Creative Commons license.

• A CC license does not mean free; the content is subject to the terms and conditions in the CC license – read the license and see what’s allowed.

I emailed, called, faxed and snail mailed the copyright owner but never received a reply.

• This does not exonerate you from copyright liability. Unless the copyright owner provides permission, you may not legally use the content.