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Conflicts That Redefined Tech

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PCQ Bureau
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Litigations, conflicts and legal battles have run parallel with the evolving technology industry. Most of these conflicts have ended in unpredictable judgements and results. Some of the conflicts that have shaped the way technology industry has evolved in the last twenty five years are discussed here.

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Apple vs Samsung: how friends became foes



The patent war between Apple and Samsung started when Samsung launched its Galaxy range of devices. Apple accused them of copying the iPad's design and making them deliberately resemble Apple products to confuse buyers into thinking that Galaxy was an Apple product. In April 2011, Apple filed for patent infringement, claiming that Samsung copied its iPhone and iPad designs.



Due to this allegation Samsung has been prohibited from selling Galaxy Tab 10.1 in several countries such as Germany, Australia etc. The patent war has got so embroiled that both giants, despite being dependent on each other, have disregarded their alliance. Apple products run on Samsung manufactured semiconductors and that fetches huge revenue to Samsung. Apple claims several of Samsung's Android phones and tablets have trespassed on Apple's patents, trademarks, user interface and style.

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The patent war has brought Samsung at par with Apple, now the world knows about Galaxy tabs. The possible outcome can end the supremacy of iPad, given the immense popularity of Galaxy Tabs. Besides, the interdependence of the two giants and their future relations may possibly get influenced by this case. Lastly, the intervention of government in these legal battles may lead to an increased government regulation in the computing industry, which has otherwise remained free of government intervention.



A decade that rocked the once dominant Music industry



By the end of 20th century, computers had become the primary mode of recording, distributing, storing and playing music. The falling hard-drive prices allowed users to transfer their CD based music files on computer hard drives. Also, use of recording software to make records dampened expensive multitrack tape machines continually. The chief economic impact of these changes was a sharp decline in revenues from recorded music.

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In the early years of the decade, the music industry fought several legal battles against companies and threatened thousands of individuals with legal actions. It helped little to their cause and instead spoiled their reputation forever. The turmoil in the industry changed the balance of power. The major music-only stores such as Tower Records, which once wielded considerable influence in the industry, went bankrupt.



Artists have profited from this, as they no longer have to sign recording deals to make it large in life. Now they can create high quality music through inexpensive recording hardware and software and distribute it over the internet to a worldwide audience. Consumers have benefited enormously from the ease with which music can be shared from computer to computer, whether over the internet or via DVDs. This has given consumers immense choice in music consumption and has opened up performers to niche markets to which they previously had little access.



Anti-piracy bills: the looming threat to free Internet

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On Jan 18, 2012, Wikipedia and some other leading websites observed a mass online blackout to protest against SOPA/PIPA bills, to bring to public light the danger that looms in the form of the two proposed legislations: SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA ( Protect IP Act). Both are two versions of the same anti-piracy bill, intended to curb online piracy and fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods.



The detractors of the legislation warn that the Protect IP Act would have a negative impact on online communities. The intention is not web censorship, but in effect it can have drastic implications for users, such as internet censorship, crippling of Internet, threatening social networking and free speech forums. Also, rivals using copyright infringement as tool to abate competition cannot be overlooked. Also, if your website holds links to a suspect site your website can be shut down. People entirely dependent on online for business might be out of business, if the bills are passed.



Microsoft initiated the first browser war

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As the browser war rages on, and the users bask in the glory of having a medley to choose from, we take a look at the first browser war that also emerges as one of the biggest legal battles in the computer industry. Microsoft is known for integrating in its Windows OS many other software and features that were originally performed by stand-alone products. Persisting with their style, Microsoft, in 1995, incorporated Internet Explorer with Windows OS, under the premise that both were part of the same merchandise.

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At that time, Netscape was the sole provider of Internet browser software at a price of $40-50. When Microsoft gave its Internet browser away, Netscape alleged that this was an unfair tactic used by Microsoft to restrict the market for competing web browsers that had to be downloaded or were available only at stores. Browser being a distinct and separate product did not have to be tied to the operating system, since a separate version of Internet Explorer was available for Mac OS.



Netscape was a relatively small company and Navigator was its only source of revenue. Microsoft's vast resources allowed Internet Explorer to remain free as the enormous revenues from Windows were used to fund its development and marketing. The first browser war ended with Internet Explorer having no remaining serious competition for its market share and eventually making web browsers free.



USB, a better substitute to FireWire and all other ports



The FireWire port was first developed by Apple and released in 1995 on Mac. Since, Apple was the most advanced form of PC, FireWire gained immense popularity. It took a couple of years, but consumer electronics began using FireWire to appeal to the industry that connected video and sound equipment to their Macs. It was also praised for its speed of data transfer. FireWire also won the 2001 Primetime Emmy Engineering Award.



USB, which came around the same time, has gradually ousted FireWire from all electronic devices. Initially, it was nearly impossible to transfer digitized video via USB because it was too slow. With the release of USB 2.0, USB appeared better and made FireWire disappear in the PC industry. USB is now fast, universal and you can actually charge devices like cell phones and iPods through a USB port.



In fact, the big win for USB also happened because it gradually took over the functions of all other ports that were available on the PC in those days--serial, parallel, PS/2, etc. Most of the newer generation today wouldn't have even heard of these ports because all they see today is USB connectiivty for most PC accessories and consumer electronic devices. That's the power of USB!



How Intel and AMD resolved the chip-war



For the last two decades, Intel and AMD have been involved, in a slew of suits and countersuits along with broken agreements to outshine each other in the microprocessor market. Intel has been trying hard to keep its monopoly, since it controls 80% of the market and AMD wrestling to end Intel's monopoly. In 2005, AMD accused Intel of monopolising the microprocessor market by using pressure tactics to coerce major companies, particularly PC manufacturers, into using Intel chips or face financial trouble, and giving them rebates if they avoid using AMD products.



Despite, Intel staying ground, several commissions like the Japan's Fair Trade Commission, in March 2005, slammed Intel for violating antitrust laws in selling microprocessors to personal-computer makers and ordered the company to stop the practices. Also, in July 2007, the European Commission accused Intel of anti-competitive practices, mostly against AMD.



With the legal settlement in favour of AMD, it has greater freedom to produce chips at different contract factories around the world, which was earlier prohibited under a patent cross-licensing deal with Intel.



AMD believes that now it will be easier for them to approach original equipment manufacturers that were allegedly under pressure from Intel. A market dominated by a single leader was feared to have implications on innovations and product quality; this was a momentous resolution between two giants and will, hopefully, benefit the consumers in the long run.



The format battle: Blu-ray vs DVD



The battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc started in 2000, when companies were looking for an alternative to CDs. They began experimenting with blue lasers in optical disc systems. It was found that the wavelength of blue light is shorter than the red lasers used in DVD, and so it can store more data because it takes less physical space to record each bit of data.



In early 2008, blu-ray scored a milestone edge when several studios and distributors shifted to Blu-ray disc. In the same year, Toshiba officially announced that it would stop the development of the HD DVD players.



The critical factor in favour of blu-ray was the shift in business alliances, including decisions by major film studios and retail distributors along with Sony's decision to include a Blu-ray player in the PlayStation 3 video game console. Sales of Blu-ray discs have increased rapidly, suggesting that consumers are warming to blu-ray because of its sharp images and extra features.



The fact that prices are now in the same range as DVD, is going to help blu-ray becoming the future disc.

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