Samsung wants U.S President Obama to veto an import ban prohibiting import of certain old smartphone models to be sold in the market.
The import ban will be effective October 8 but the South Korean smartphone maker is appealing to President Obama to veto it like what it did for Apple before.
Samsung and Apple are the biggest players in the smartphone market globally. Changes of policies in key markets would have significant impact to this highly competitive arena.
Samsung argues that import bans should not be put in place for very advanced products just for one to two of its features. "Courts, scholars and industry participants agree that granting injunctive relief over an entire product based on the infringement of one or a few of these features disproportionately rewards the patentee at the expense of U.S. consumers."
About 32 percent of the smartphone sales for the second quarter goes to Samsung while Apple only has 13 percent worldwide. Samsung suspects that the recent import ban could be a move to protect and advance the interests of the American company.
U.S trade representative Michael Froman clarified that the U.S government is far from playing favorites or being biased. "The world is watching how Samsung is treated by the United States in this ‘smartphone war. The administration has a significant interest in avoiding the perception of favoritism and protectionism toward U.S. companies," he explained to Bloomberg.
Apple, however, supports the decision stressing the differentiating factor of selected features that its products are known for. The American company attracts its customer base through the iPhone and iPad's distinct function and look. Thus, it is imperative to protect its patents and technology from other smartphone manufacturers.
Pro-Asian companies representative Jim Altman told Bloomberg, "It's frustrating for Samsung -- they won a big victory against Apple or so they thought. The president gets rid of it. And then Apple wins a victory and the president says ‘tough cookies'?"
