蘋果公司(Apple Inc.)終于發(fā)現(xiàn)自己所主張的一些事情竟與過去幾年來不斷努力設(shè)法證明的一切背道而馳。那就是──蘋果公司的競爭對手三星電子(Samsung Electronics)侵犯其一項主要的專利，而幾個國家的法院針對這一相同專利卻分別作出了不同的判決結(jié)果。 顯然地，就算是蘋果公司也不確定接下來該怎么面對這些判決結(jié)果，而今還被迫得在一份公開聲明中證實三星公司未侵犯其專利。 蘋果是如何自陷于如今這樣一個奇怪的位置的？英國地方法院先前曾以三星產(chǎn)品不夠酷的理由判決三星平板未侵犯蘋果 iPad 設(shè)計，并要求蘋果必須公開聲明這項判決結(jié)果。而今，在英國上訴法院維持原先地方法院“三星公司Galaxy Tab 10.1、Tab 8.9與Tab 7.7未侵犯蘋果公司第0000181607-0001號注冊專利”的判決后，蘋果公司被迫得在其英國公司官網(wǎng)上發(fā)布聲明，還三星公司一個清白。蘋果公司 甚至得提供連結(jié)至地方法院與上訴法院的判決結(jié)果。“三星所注冊的設(shè)計專利與 iPad 的設(shè)計并不相同，”上訴法院表示。 有趣的是，幾個國家的法院針對同一專利分別作出了不同的判決結(jié)果。英國判決蘋果敗訴，并必須公開發(fā)布三星無罪的判決結(jié)果；德國和美國都判三星侵權(quán)，三星必須付給蘋果10億美元的損害賠償；而在荷蘭、韓國以及日本法院中，目前看來則是三星占上風(fēng)。 如同蘋果公司在其聲明中指出的，“(英國法院)這項判決的結(jié)果影響遍及整個歐盟?！币虼耍@會兒應(yīng)該真相大白了，對不對？那可不，因為就在同一份聲明中，蘋果公司還強(qiáng)調(diào)，德國法院在相同的專利上作出有利于蘋果的裁決，同時，加州陪審團(tuán)也判三星得付出10億美元的賠償金。蘋果進(jìn)一步指出： “針對這項專利訴訟，德國法院發(fā)現(xiàn)三星抄襲 iPad 設(shè)計的方式，違反了公平競爭的原則。美國法院也發(fā)現(xiàn)三星侵犯蘋果的設(shè)計與工具專利，必須賠償蘋果超過10億美元的損失。因此，盡管英國法院未發(fā)現(xiàn)三星侵權(quán)事證，其它法院都認(rèn)為三星在開發(fā) Galaxy 平板電腦的過程中，蓄意復(fù)制了蘋果廣受歡迎的 iPad 產(chǎn)品設(shè)計?！? 至今我還不知該如何解開這個謎團(tuán)。除了我得撰寫有關(guān)這一事件發(fā)展的文章以及指出整個技術(shù)專利環(huán)境已經(jīng)變得多么暗淡以外，我相信很多歐洲國家也必須面對這個兩 難──歐盟國家最終得實施這兩種相互矛盾的判決結(jié)果。德國當(dāng)?shù)胤ㄔ旱呐袥Q結(jié)果與英國法院影響遍及整個歐洲的裁決相互抵觸，那么德國執(zhí)法人員究竟該怎么做？ 此外，美國的裁決真的有利于蘋果嗎？蘋果至今仍如履薄冰。在加州法院的判決中，陪審團(tuán)認(rèn)為三星侵犯蘋果的一項主要專利在經(jīng)過美國專利與高商標(biāo)局 (USPTO)重新審查后，如今已暫時宣告無效了。當(dāng)然，這項判決的結(jié)果也可能進(jìn)一步的重新審查后被推翻。而今，蘋果還未收到10億美元的損害賠償或甚至 將三星逐出市場。 因此，對于兩家公司來說，現(xiàn)在是不是到了雙方該一起坐下來認(rèn)真討論如何結(jié)束這場鬧劇的時候了？ 本文授權(quán)編譯自EBN Online，版權(quán)所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載 編譯：Susan Hong 參考英文原文：Apple in a Bind as Courts Wrangle Over Patents，by Bolaji Ojo, Editor in Chief

相關(guān)閱讀：
• 蘋果希望供應(yīng)鏈里不再出現(xiàn)“三星”兩字
• 外觀設(shè)計專利要被重視，給你7個理由先
• 手機(jī)產(chǎn)業(yè)何謂創(chuàng)新？何謂發(fā)明？0lnesmc

{pagination} Apple in a Bind as Courts Wrangle Over Patents， Bolaji Ojo There's a direct line between the global economic doldrums and the lackluster results announced by many of the biggest technology companies. The inevitable conclusion reached from reviewing the third-quarter results and fourth-quarter outlooks from companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Intel, IBM, Texas Instruments, and STMicroelectronics is that the entire industry is being impacted by slowing demand by consumers, businesses, and government institutions for electronics and IT equipment. Not even Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) has escaped the shellacking. The wonder boy of the consumer electronics world typically beats not just its own forecast, but also the supercharged Street forecast. But on Thursday, the world's biggest consumer electronics company by sales and market capitalization reported results that missed estimates. CEO Tim Cook told investors that rumors about new products especially hurt iPad sales. I disagree. As I have pointed out in the past, Apple isn't immune to what's happening in the general economy. Alex Gauna, an analyst at JMP Securities, told the Los Angeles Times that Apple "missed expectations for the third time in the last year and a half; that's uncharacteristic of Apple and it's something we're going to have to get used to." Events outside the industry's control are impacting electronics companies more today than in the past. The industry is still trying to get used to that or even accept it. Belt tightening by companies, consumers, and governments is hurting sales. Here are a few examples drawn from headlines about the general economy, retailers, OEMs, and component suppliers. · Orders for U.S. Capital Goods Stagnate as Spending Slumps · Best Buy Says Quarterly Profit Will Fall 'Significantly' · Amazon's results fail to meet expectations · Ericsson Profit Drops 43% as Carriers Cut Spending · Fed Says Economy Still Needs Its Help to Grow · US economy likely grew slowly last quarter · Japan approves $5.3 billion stimulus to fend off recession as economy stays mired in deflation · Avnet reports larger-than-expected dip in sales · STMicro Makes Plans to Get Leaner as Chip Demand Is Weak · Texas Instruments Offers Weak Q4 Outlook Some industry observers see the generally weak third-quarter results as an anomaly that should pass soon. I believe they point to a longer trend for manufacturers. The global economy isn't monolithic, and many places will continue to lag others in demand and growth, pressuring sales and impacting decisions about the allocation of resources. My position is that those pressure points are here to stay, at least for the next several years. Europe and the US (the presidential election notwithstanding) will continue to struggle for many more years with economic pressures related to debts, fiscal restructuring, and the growing belief that public spending should be drastically scaled back to reduce borrowing and interest payments on government obligations. In a few months, politicians in China have gone from worrying about an economic overheating to near panic about the possibility of sluggish demand (primarily in foreign markets) crimping employment and wage growth. Many China watchers say the country is hurting as demand for its products declines in Europe, which is battling a crippling fiscal crisis. Taking all these things into consideration, it's obvious electronics manufacturers will find it harder to predict demand in the coming quarters and possibly the coming years. Thankfully, many companies are already taking steps to counter the dragging impact on their operations. They are monitoring demand more closely and have tamped down on inventory, using a just-in-time program that reinforces the need to have only components required for confirmed sales in stock. These actions have boosted margins and sent profits to record heights, despite flagging sales. Many companies are watching their own expenses and have been swift to cut costs in anticipation of slowing demand. They've also instituted a more flexible, smarter, and smaller workforce system; employees can be replenished or downsized swiftly in response to changing market conditions. With the economic crystal ball fogging up at unexpected times, more actions like these will be needed in the coming quarters.