As a technology enthusiast, and after learning about Business Ethics, I read about the Apple vs. Samsung lawsuit in which Samsung willfully infringed several Apple patents. The result: A billion-dollar payment from Samsung, plus an injunction against sales of infringing Samsung smartphones. Apple’s win sets a precedent for companies to think ethically about product design and patent compliance.
How will this lawsuit affect the manufacturing of devices and the consumer’s decision-making process? The New York Times predicts this will, “welcome diversity in phone and tablet design — or they may be stuck with devices that manufacturers have clumsily revamped to avoid crossing Apple.” Consumers will have more choices. Conversely, consumers could be affected by the monopoly Apple has on these patents by pricing products at will or by charging a royalty that third-party vendors (like Samsung) will pass on resulting in an expensive product.
Samsung is one of the leading smartphone makers and its executives must make ethical decisions to not infringe upon Apple’s patents. The late Steve Jobs summarizes business ethics well: “We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours.”
Related Articles:
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19391235
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/08/24/apple-samsung-patent-battle-california.html
http://cybershack.com/news/apple%E2%80%99s-has-won-battle-has-it-won-war
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/18/us-apple-samsung-lawsuit-idUSTRE73H6FV20110418
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