Wednesday, December 14th 2011

Apple Unable To Beat Competitors By Applying Lawsuits, Forced To Actually Compete

There's nothing quite like the irony of trying to shut down your prime competitor and giving their products a big boost in brand awareness instead. It seems that there are two basic ways to compete in this world: make a better product at a better price, or try to shut down your competitors with lawsuits and sell your inferior product at a nice fat mark-up. Well, unfortunately for Apple, they chose the latter. A week ago, we brought you news on how Apple's lawsuit against a Chinese competitor had suffered a setback over the name "iPad" which Apple tried to take off them - the court didn't buy Apple's arguments and the competitor kept the name.

Now, Apple have suffered a much bigger setback in Australia by taking on formidable opponent Samsung, with what appears to be a meritless lawsuit. Samsung had released a competitor product to the iPad, called the Galaxy Tab running Android, which has received good reviews. Apple tried to ban sales of the device, claiming it infringed various patents and look and feel - and it worked. Until Samsung appealed and the ruling was overturned. Oops. Samsung is now delighted with the whole fiasco, as it's given them a huge marketing boost. Samsung Australia's vice president of telecommunications, Tyler McGee said: "At the end of the day the media awareness certainly made the Galaxy Tab 10.1 a household name compared to probably what it would've been based on the investment that we would've put into it from a marketing perspective." Yes, it's probably better to compete by outcompeting your competitor, rather than use dodgy legal tactics to try and stifle them. However, now Apple have turned to a patent troll to do their dirty work for them against various competitors. We can just see Apple going far with this strategy. Is this what Steve Jobs would have wanted?
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
Add your own comment

30 Comments on Apple Unable To Beat Competitors By Applying Lawsuits, Forced To Actually Compete

#1
Wile E
Power User
I wouldn't call iPad inferior, it's strengths are just in a different area than the android tablets.
Posted on Reply
#2
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
wait, the galaxy tab wasnt available worldwide? i didnt realise it was just for aussies.
Posted on Reply
#3
Wile E
Power User
No, we have it here.
Posted on Reply
#4
Damn_Smooth
They haven't learned their lesson yet. Google needs to keep suing them with Motorola patents until they get it.
Posted on Reply
#6
DragonBorn
sell your inferior product at a nice fat mark-up.

Sounds like a M$ move that type of trick.
Posted on Reply
#7
a111087
DragonBornsell your inferior product at a nice fat mark-up.

Sounds like a M$ move that type of trick.
do you mind naming at least one product?
Posted on Reply
#8
DragonBorn
a111087do you mind naming at least one product?
Xbox 360 lol
Posted on Reply
#9
devguy
DragonBornXbox 360 lol
Crazy, because Microsoft was selling the 360 for a loss for quite a while. When they finally got near that break even point, they had their massive Red Ring warranty extension that cost them a shit ton more. I'm sure they make a profit on each 360 slim sold now, but it's what, over 6 years since the original product launched?

A better example would be Nintendo and their Wii [bit better than the Gamecube] console.
Posted on Reply
#10
qubit
Overclocked quantum bit
devguyCrazy, because Microsoft was selling the 360 for a loss for quite a while. When they finally got near that break even point, they had their massive Red Ring warranty extension that cost them a shit ton more. I'm sure they make a profit on each 360 slim sold now, but it's what, over 6 years since the original product launched?

A better example would be Nintendo and their Wii [bit better than the Gamecube] console.
I don't know if they still make a loss on every xbox any more, but they'll make a profit on the games. Also, running a loss leader like that can be very helpful in improving profits elsewhere by increasing brand awareness and sales of other types of products. MS have piled millions, maybe billions into their xbox brand and they wouldn't do that without seeing a tangible benefit from it, eventually.
Posted on Reply
#11
a111087
DragonBornXbox 360 lol
what devguy said
Posted on Reply
#12
DragonBorn
devguyCrazy, because Microsoft was selling the 360 for a loss for quite a while. When they finally got near that break even point, they had their massive Red Ring warranty extension that cost them a shit ton more. I'm sure they make a profit on each 360 slim sold now, but it's what, over 6 years since the original product launched?

A better example would be Nintendo and their Wii [bit better than the Gamecube] console.
So true but M$ make cash loads from the game royalties From the devs So m$ sell the 360,s
At a loss but make up for the loss by the game royalties the devs pay m$ for that platform/360
Posted on Reply
#13
a111087
DragonBornSo true but M$ make cash loads from the game royalties From the devs So m$ sell the 360,s
At a loss but make up for the loss by the game royalties the devs pay m$ for that platform/360
you were asked to provide an example of MS product that goes along the lines of "sell your inferior product at a nice fat mark-up." x-box is sold at a loss, but apple sell their stuff with a fat mark up and then charges % at their app store.
Posted on Reply
#14
DragonBorn
qubitI don't know if they still make a loss on every xbox any more, but they'll make a profit on the games. Also, running a loss leader like that can be very helpful in improving profits elsewhere by increasing brand awareness and sales of other types of products. MS have piled millions, maybe billions into their xbox brand and they wouldn't do that without seeing a tangible benefit from it, eventually.
Mite be so i look at it like this the 360,s made in chine with cheep sweat shops,
Saveing m$ lost,s of cash
Posted on Reply
#15
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
DragonBornMight be so, i look at it like this: The 360's made in china in cheap sweat shops, saving m$ lots of cash
but they still sold them at a loss. so no, they didn't save any cash.



those same sweatshops as you call them, probably made everything else as well. for example foxconn make a really, really large percentage of all PC hardware, including a lot of apples stuff. i would not be surprised if a large amount of console components came from them as well.
Posted on Reply
#16
a111087
DragonBornMite be so i look at it like this the 360,s made in chine with cheep sweat shops,
Saveing m$ lost,s of cash
want to know where iphones are made? hint: look for a factory with high employee suicide rate :laugh:
they had to set up nets, to catch poor bastards
Posted on Reply
#17
DragonBorn
Musselsbut they still sold them at a loss. so no, they didn't save any cash.



those same sweatshops as you call them, probably made everything else as well. for example foxconn make a really, really large percentage of all PC hardware, including a lot of apples stuff. i would not be surprised if a large amount of console components came from them as well.
In the long run M$ make there loss back from the game,s royalties the devs pay them for use of the 360 platform it pay,s in the long run i gess
Posted on Reply
#18
DragonBorn
a111087want to know where iphones are made? hint: look for a factory with high employee suicide rate :laugh:
they had to set up nets, to catch poor bastards
So that,s why my iphone dont work after 3 weeks lol
Posted on Reply
#19
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
DragonBornIn the long run M$ make there loss back from the game,s royalties the devs pay them for use of the 360 platform it pay,s in the long run i gess
you said MS rip everyone off with overpriced products, when they sold them at a loss to benefit consumers.

yes they made their money back, but they would have made more money had they sold it at a profit and made that long term money anyway.


also, please use multi quote or edit instead of double posting.
Posted on Reply
#20
lashton
a111087want to know where iphones are made? hint: look for a factory with high employee suicide rate :laugh:
they had to set up nets, to catch poor bastards
you would be surpised at how many people think your comment is a joke, only its true foxconn had to put up suicide nets to stop peop,e killing them selves, so every apple product you buy you kill a chinaman, unlike 99% of peop,e here I have NEVER owned and apple product EVER, not an Apple 2e or and Ipod NOTHING
Posted on Reply
#21
DragonBorn
lashtonyou would be surpised at how many people think your comment is a joke, only its true foxconn had to put up suicide nets to stop peop,e killing them selves, so every apple product you buy you kill a chinaman, unlike 99% of peop,e here I have NEVER owned and apple product EVER, not an Apple 2e or and Ipod NOTHING
With apple lawsuit,s it seem,s there are fighting a no win battle now saying steve jobs aint about any more keep a eye on them.

Hens my m$ rant.
Posted on Reply
#22
DragonBorn
Musselsbut they still sold them at a loss. so no, they didn't save any cash.



those same sweatshops as you call them, probably made everything else as well. for example foxconn make a really, really large percentage of all PC hardware, including a lot of apples stuff. i would not be surprised if a large amount of console components came from them as well.
Must be my m$ I.E 9 playing up.?

Point taken joke...;)
Posted on Reply
#23
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
can you stop with the double posting dragonborn? i have asked you already.
Posted on Reply
#24
Unregistered
Screw apple, they deserve it. They brainwash people with flashy ad that their (<--notice proper use of their) products are better and more innovative than all the others when they are not. When some other company releases a blatantly better product for a cheaper price, they have a tanny and sue them, waah waah, it looks like a ipad/iphone. Well tough shit, make your crap better and or cheaper rather than try and bully other companies.

I hope this is not the end of apples woes.

Also i would never touch any apple product with a stick with brown smelly stuff on it.
#25
mediasorcerer
tiggerScrew apple, they deserve it. They brainwash people with flashy ad that their (<--notice proper use of their) products are better and more innovative than all the others when they are not. When some other company releases a blatantly better product for a cheaper price, they have a tanny and sue them, waah waah, it looks like a ipad/iphone. Well tough shit, make your crap better and or cheaper rather than try and bully other companies.

I hope this is not the end of apples woes.

Also i would never touch any apple product with a stick with brown smelly stuff on it.
Hey tig how are you buddy, i kind of agree actually, even tho i use and like apple gear[just not the prices haha]:laugh:

yep it doesnt make them look like the nice "family" computer supplier anymore does it, more like a bunch of bullies, especially when the ipad sales are dominating, it was not even necessary was it? to sue samsung.

As ye sow, so ye shall reap i say!!
Posted on Reply
Add your own comment
Nov 23rd, 2024 20:04 EST change timezone

New Forum Posts

Popular Reviews

Controversial News Posts