If you read iDevice.ro over the weekend, then you learned that Samsung was forced by an American court to pay the amount of almost 1.05 billion dollars for infringing some Apple patents. This verdict was returned on all sides by journalists "fans" of Samsung and Apple, but the reality can be seen on the stock market because the value of Samsung shares decreased with 7% ($78) in one day. The blow was strong for Samsung, its executives I hold emergency meetings to discuss the verdict, and one of them stated that this was the worst scenario they could expect.
"It's absolutely the worst scenario for us," a senior Samsung executive said as he rushed into the company's compound in southern Seoul. Inside the building, Choi Gee-sung, former Samsung Electronics CEO and now the head of Samsung Group's corporate strategy division, was holding an emergency meeting attended by Shin Jong-kyun, the company's mobile devices chief, and Lee Dong-joo, lead marketing official. "As far as I know, it's very rare for the presiding judge to make a decision going against the verdict by jurors," said one Samsung official.
Those from Samsung seem to be affected by the decision, but the amount of 1.05 billion dollars that they have to pay seems small compared to the profit recorded by them during the sale of terminals that infringe those patents. However, the problem is not that simple because Samsung products infringe those patents may be discontinued in the US after a court hearing that would take place in September. The representatives of Samsung say that they will appeal against the verdict, but they are aware that the situations in which judges change the decision of a jury are very rare.
In conclusion, Samsung seems to have received a "painful" blow, but everything could just be a new marketing/PR strategy.
