Staggering into the future: A U.S. jury’s $1 billion verdict against Samsung for what rival Apple claimed was the illegal copying of its iPhone and iPad designs signals a turning point for the South Korean electronics giant known for its prowess in adapting the innovations of others and nimbly executing production. The verdict not only jolted the world of global gadgetry but also likely sparked some soul-searching in Suwon, South Korea, where the family-run Samsung conglomerate is based. Samsung finds itself back at the drawing board, trying to re-create itself as an innovator, not an imitator. But the transformation, experts say, will be much more challenging and time-consuming than the shortcuts Samsung used to take. Read the full story here.
Owning up: The New York Times Co. is girding for a legal battle that many larger organizations have avoided. The Times is spearheading the defense of a diverse group of companies that use technology they assumed was free: sending text messages with Web links to mobile phones. However, the technology was actually patented by inventor Richard J. Helferich, who filed an outline of how such a system would work with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in September 1997. He was granted several patents on the method, giving him the right to sue companies that use it without permission. The full story is available here.
Harder, better, faster, stronger: IBM today introduced a new line of mainframe computers the company calls its most powerful and technologically advanced ever. IBM says its zEnterprise EC12 mainframe server is designed to help clients securely and quickly sift through massive amounts of data, meeting the demands of retail and other clients in the age of “Big Data.” Mainframes are used by corporate clients ranging from banks to chain stores. Get all the specifics in the full story here.
Editor’s note: Daily Report is compiling an updated list of Isaac-related cancellations and closures, as well as providing emergency contact information. See the complete rundown here; and send any updates/additions to be considered for inclusion by email to editors@businessreport.com.
