(ThyBlackMan.com) Apple and Google are titans of the smartphone game. They both have distinct operating systems with iOS being Apple’s dedicated offering and Android being the most used operating system. It’s because of Android having such a large market share and dealing with several smartphone manufacturers that it’s kind of the glue for the companies that make up the “Android Alliance” that battled Apple in court several times.
So, this is more about the battle between Apple and Google’s business partners than Google itself. Most of Googles legal issues came in the way of unauthorized Google Play payments made by children and what popped up in searches over in Europe.
When I began writing, my first blog opportunity was about tech and mobile. This was 2013 and the major battle was Apple against Android-oriented manufacturers. These battles popped up mainly because everyone had a patent to something, they were making their own phones and their competitors were possibly using a couple of their patents.
Apple vs. Nokia, HTC, and Motorola
This kicked things off in 2009 which was a few years before I started writing but I followed the back and forth between the two. This was around the time that Nokia’s place in the mobile phone world was being shaken by the likes of Samsung, HTC and LG. Blackberry had its place and pretty much stayed there until the start of the 2010s. Motorola still garnered props for its phones as well.
The thing about these companies is that they all developed some innovation for smartphones—particularly Nokia, HTC, and Motorola. These innovations proved so important to a functional smartphone that Apple snagged a few for the iPhone, prompting the first wave of the patent wars.
The major competitors that gave Apple a hard time were Motorola and Nokia. Those two companies had decades in telecom and phone manufacturing and amassed a number of patents. Apple was bound to stumble into patent violation territory since it was like a legal landmine—even if there was no intention while building the iPhone.
For the short period that Google owned Motorola, things got a little dicey for Apple since the company also had issues with Microsoft. Things just got murkier and murkier for the Cupertino-based company.
Apple vs. Samsung
This was the biggest legal battle when it came to smartphones. This thing was sprawling and had everything. From blatant patent violations, to very technical under the hood stuff, to lawsuits over things that have become commonplace, and everything in between.
Both sides won several lawsuits and a few were thrown out. Apple still had lingering lawsuits from several other manufacturers at this time so it was constantly fighting battles on multiple fronts. When you look at the list of lawsuits, it’s truly a wonder how Apple was able to juggle them all and file their own lawsuits against competitors. Then again, Apple has an incredible legal department, I’m certain.
The Significance
What really popped things for these patent battles was when the Supreme Court reversed Apple’s $929 million 2014 victory over Samsung and bounced it back to the Federal Court in 2016. That’s three years of legal battles reignited unless a concrete definition of it is between Apple and Samsung could be decided.
For tech news, these patent battles and several other ones that happened at the same time—also involving Apple—were great to give an insight into tech business. Not only that but if you wrote on technology, this was constantly fresh content. The patent suits just never stopped coming between 2010 and 2016.
If you run a business or looking to start your own business, it lets you know how important it is to have your legal affairs in order and ho holding trademarks, copyrights, and patents aren’t just a suggestion, but it’s essential. This is especially true if you’re running with a unique concept.
Staff Writer; M. Swift
This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.