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Wed, July 6, 2022 | 18:47
Tech
Samsung, MS head for settlement
안드로이드폰 로열티로 매년 2조원 버는 MS
Posted : 2014-08-17 17:18
Updated : 2014-08-17 20:09
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By Kim Yoo-chul

Samsung Electronics and Microsoft have recently restarted discussions to reach an amicable end to the recent patent dispute.

Samsung wants to keep Microsoft as a trustworthy client for cloud computing and "Internet of Things," while Microsoft needs Samsung to push its Windows mobile platform. Samsung is the world's top vendor of smartphones.

"The key point is that Microsoft wants to settle the lawsuit and it's no surprise to see that the two technology giants have resumed ‘working-level' discussions on how to dismiss lawsuits filed by Microsoft to a New York court," said an industry official by telephone, Sunday.

The official added the settlement would not take long because the main issue was how to renew terms of details such as royalty payments in return for using patents.

Samsung is being pressurized by royalty payments for Microsoft's 300 Android patents.

With its profit dropping, Samsung can't afford the payments at the current rate, forcing it to renegotiate with MS.

''While Microsoft acquired Nokia's handset division, the Finland-based Nokia was still passive to opening up its patents to the U.S. licensing giant. Because Microsoft failed to secure Nokia-owned patents, it will be very tough for Microsoft to produce handsets without Samsung-owned wireless patents. So it is likely that Samsung is asking Microsoft to renew contract terms. Microsoft is ready to accept the Samsung requests,'' said Lee Chang-hoon, a local patent attorney.

Samsung is paying ''billions of dollars'' as royalty, annually, for every Galaxy mobile devices it sells. That's a part of a ''patent-sharing agreement,'' the two companies agreed in 2011.

But the officials say Samsung is hoping to sign a ''comprehensive cross-licensing deal'' with Microsoft.

''Samsung earlier promised to team up with Microsoft to promote Windows platforms and Windows-embedded mobile devices. If the two settles the lawsuit, then Samsung may show more attention for the development of Windows-powered devices,'' said the official.

Since 2011, only a very few Windows smartphones and tablets are available in Korea.

Samsung declined to comment, while Microsoft Korea said it normally doesn't provide comments about client-related issues.

Microsoft insisted that Samsung failed to pay royalty on time last fall and is refusing to pay interest on the late payment.

Nomura Securities last year estimated that Microsoft generates more than $2 billion a year only on patent royalties related to devices powering on Google Android platform manufactured by Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Taiwan's HTC.

Reports have said Samsung is paying between $10 and $15 as royalty to Microsoft in each Samsung device.

Samsung shipped more than 310 smartphones last year, meaning that the Korean technology powerhouse spent at least $3 billion only for royalty to Microsoft, accounting for 10 percent out of annual net profit that Samsung reported in 2013.

''The global smartphone market is showing a sign of decline as the axis of smartphones has been shifted toward budget and cheaper models, putting Samsung's smartphone business into the corner. Also, the demand for conventional PCs is slumping, hitting the U.S. company. A new partnership will be needed. The Samsung-Microsoft legal battle is different from Samsung-Apple lawsuit,'' said Lee.


안드로이드폰 로열티로 매년 2조원 버는 MS

1일(현지시간) 세계 최대 소프트웨어 기업 마이크로소프트(MS)가 세계 최대 스마트폰 업체 삼성전자를 상대로 로열티(특허료) 소송을 낸 근거는 안드로이드 운영체제(OS)에 MS 특허가 쓰이고 있다는 점이다.

스마트폰과 태블릿으로 가장 많은 로열티 수익을 올리는 기업은 안드로이드 운영체제를 만드는 구글이 아니라 바로 MS다.

구글이 안드로이드 운영체제(OS)를 제작해 배포하기는 하지만, 오픈소스 조건에 따라 무료로 공개하기 때문에 로열티를 받지 못한다.

그러나 MS는 삼성, LG, HTC 등 주요 스마트폰·태블릿 제조사들이 안드로이드폰을 팔 때마다 이들로부터 특허 사용료를 받고 있다.

이는 구글이 만든 안드로이드 운영체제의 기능 중 일부가 MS의 특허를 침해했다는 판단이 2010∼2011년 미국 법원 등에서 잇따라 나온 것이 계기가 됐다.

이에 따라 20여개 업체들이 MS와 계약을 체결해 특허 사용 대가를 지불하는 것이다.

MS가 안드로이드로 벌어들이는 돈이 자체 플랫폼인 윈도폰 관련 매출보다 오히려 훨씬 많다는 점은 확실하다.

MS가 상세한 계약 내용을 공개하지 않기 때문에 MS가 안드로이드로 올리는 로열티 수익의 정확한 규모는 알 수 없다.

다만 지난해 11월 투자은행 노무라의 애널리스트인 릭 셜룬드가 MS의 안드로이드 관련 특허료 수익을 연간 20억 달러(약 2조1천억원), 이에 따른 마진율을 95%로 각각 추산한 바 있다.

MS는 이날 소장을 법원에 접수한 후 블로그 게시물을 통해 오만에 가까운 자신감과 함께 로열티 수익을 결코 포기할 수 없다는 의지를 밝혔다.

MS의 법무담당 임원인 데이비드 하워드 부사장(CVP)은 삼성이 2011년 자발적으로 MS와 지적재산권 사용권 계약을 체결했으며 이 계약은 법적 구속력이 있다고 지적하면서 '삼성이 이번 인수(MS의 노키아 휴대전화사업부문 인수)를 계약 위반의 핑계로 사용하기 시작했다'고 전했다.

하워드 부사장은 '흥미롭게도, 삼성은 (MS의) 노키아 인수가 삼성이 MS와 체결한 계약을 무효화하는지 법원에 판단을 내려 달라고 하지 않았는데, 이는 승산이 없다는 점을 알고 있었기 때문일 가능성이 크다'고 주장했다.

삼성전자는 이에 대해 '소장을 면밀히 검토한 후 적절한 대응 조치를 결정하겠다'며 신중한 자세를 보였다. (연합뉴스)
Emailyckim@ktimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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