The late Steve Jobs swore that he would destroy Android; He accused Google of creating an outright copy of Apple’s ridiculously successful iOS. “I’m willing to go to thermonuclear war on this,” he promised, and while he didn’t live to see the recent ruling of the Apple v. Samsung case citing patent infringement on the part of Samsung, who makes some of the most successful Android products, his goal is well on it’s way. Through history patent infringement has had long lasting effects on products that consumers come to know and love, but after this recent ruling the game may have changed. The world and its tech companies have seen Apple’s wrath, and the extent to which they are willing to go to protect their products.
The future of manufacturing smartphones will inevitably be one that now attempts to conform to stringent borders and guidelines. Samsung and others must now strive to make successful products without infringing on a single Apple patent. In Samsung’s statement after the trial; the company said “Today’s verdict should not be viewed as a win for Apple, but as a loss for the American consumer.” Will this hold true? The atmosphere that Apple has created may just be the most careful era of invention in recent history. New inventors and established corporate giants alike will have to go back to the drawing board to design products while completely avoiding any ideas or features patented by Apple Inc.
Best of luck to future developers, as Apple has showed us this week that they will spare no expense to bring swift, billion dollar justice, to any company who may dare copy their ideas.