Info Tech
U.S. ends probe of Samsung’s use of essential patents
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Justice Department will close its investigation into Samsung Electronics’ use of a special class of essential patents to attack rivals but would keep monitoring related patent litigation, it said on Friday.
Samsung had filed a patent infringement complaint against Apple Inc at the U.S. International Trade Commission and won an order in June 2013 banning the sale of some older iPhones and iPads in the United States. Samsung and Apple are the No. 1 and No. 2 smartphone makers, globally.
One of the patents involved in the case was a so-called standards-essential patent (SEP), a class of patents that ensure different devices can work together and are expected to be widely licensed.
The Justice Department and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office have argued that sales bans imposed as punishments for infringing on these patents should be done only in very rare cases.
Otherwise, patent holders “could use the threat of an exclusion order to obtain licensing terms that are more onerous than would be justified by the value of the technology itself,” the Justice Department said.
The ITC’s sales ban on Apple devices was overturned in August by the Obama administration, citing the effects on U.S. consumers and the economy.
Based on that action, a Justice Department investigation was unnecessary, the department said.
“The Antitrust Division is therefore closing its investigation into Samsung’s conduct, but will continue to monitor further developments in this area,” the division said in a statement.
Representatives of Samsung and Apple declined to comment on the decision.
Apple, which revolutionized the smartphone, and Samsung, which makes mobile phones based on Google’s Android software, have fought tooth-and-nail over patents in more than 10 countries, seeking a competitive edge.
Heading into another patent trial due to start in March, Apple’s chief executive, Tim Cook, and his Samsung counterpart, Kwon Oh-hyun, have agreed to a mediation session by February 19.
Apple shares were up 1.4 percent at $519.54 per share in late U.S. trading.
– REUTERS
In efforts at spicing up the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, the management of ITREALMS Media has partnered with E-waste Producer Responsibility Organization of Nigeria (EPRON) membership organisations for a day-long collection scheme of small electronic waste on Friday, December 15, 2023.
The EPRON members aligning their partnership with 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue are EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited and WEEE Eco-Friendly.
ITREALMS’ day-long collection scheme is part of the commemoration of 2023 international E-Waste Day (IEWD) within the ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue with the theme “You Can Recycle Anything with a plug, battery or cable” at Welcome Centre Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.
Revealing this collaboration, the Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media, the organisers of the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue, Sir. Remmy Nweke, urged mobile device enthusiasts to come along with their devices that have reached their end-of-life to the venue for proper disposition by professionals who would also be on grounds to address some topical issues.
The collection of small electronic wastes especially mobile phones and like-devices, would be carried out by EPRON member organisation, EL-AS Tech Enterprises Limited as facilitated by ITREALMS Media group as part of this year’s ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue on Friday, December 15, he added.
He disclosed that the exercise would commence at Welcome Centre Hotel by 9am till close of work hours the same day.
Nweke pointed out that the collection of small e-waste items would include mobile phones, pointers mouse, earpieces, rechargeable torches, phone chargers, to name a few.
Further, he said, that this initiative has become time-serving because some people may have missed any other opportunity before now for the year-long campaign, hence this awareness on e-Waste has to be continuous, “ITREALMS came up with this scheme.”
Nweke beckoned on Nigerians, especially mobile phone users, to leverage the opportunity in disposing of their mobile devices they no longer use, of course in exchange for a voucher or gift item.
In her reaction to this year’s day-long small waste collection, EPRON Executive Secretary, Mrs. Ibukun Faluyi, described the initiative as commendable, expressing confidence it would intensify the collection of end-of-life devices for proper disposition.
Mrs. Faluyi, also urged Nigerians to take advantage of this day-long collection of small wastes courtesy of ITREALMS Media.
Recalling for instance that in October 2022, EPRON had partnered SLOT alongside some UN agencies for collection of small e-waste items in Lagos, including the United Nations Information Centres (UNIC), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
This is even as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Aminu Maida and Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Prof. Aliyu Jauro, would both lead speakers at the 2023 ITREALMS E-Waste Dialogue slated for this Friday, December 15, in Lagos.
