Analysts believe that Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) emerged as beneficiaries of Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL)’s success in its patent infringement fight against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (KRX:005930).
The federal jury found that Samsung willfully copied its design and recommended that the company pay $1.05 billion damages to Apple. Samsung might face higher financial damages, depending on the discretion of the presiding judge, Lucy Koh. Apple also requested the court to ban the sale of Samsung’s mobile devices involved in the litigation in the United States.
According to analysts, the jury’s verdict sent a clear message to Apple’s competitors such as HTC Corp (TPE:2498), LG, ZTE, and Huawei, which run the Android operating system to innovate their smartphone features and designs, to prevent the possibility of suffering being dragged by Apple into court for the same reason—patent infringement.
Nokia and Microsoft are safe from a patent infringement complaint from Apple. A report from Pareto Securities Equity Research cited that Microsoft has a very strong patent portfolio and the software giant has an existing cross license agreement with the iPhone and iPad maker.
On the other hand, Nokia’s Lumia smartphone was used by Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s lawyers during the trial as an example of innovation. Obviously, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will not accuse Nokia of copying its trade dress. In addition, Nokia has a vast patent portfolio accumulated over ten years of research, with a 6 billion euro to 8 billion euro market value.
It is clear Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V)’s Lumia smartphone, which runs Microsoft Window 8 OS is unique from the iPhone’s user interface and design. A patent infringement case between Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) and Apple is unlikely to happen.
Apple asked the court to ban the sale of Samsung’s smartphones in the United States and a hearing regarding the issue is scheduled in September. Analysts from ABG Sundal Collier believe if the court were to prohibit Samsung from selling its mobile devices involved in the patent case, there will be a shortage in the supply of smartphones. Nokia and Microsoft will definitely benefit from the shortage, and increase the sale of its products.
The analysts also project the supply of iPhones will also face shortage. Samsung is a major supplier of memory chips, high definition displays, and applications processors to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). If its mobile devices will be banned in the United States, of course the South Korean electronics company will try to get even with Apple by not providing its needed supplies to produce its iPhone or iPad.
According to analysts, the uncertainties in the mobile computing industry brought by the Apple and Samsung patent infringement case is definitely advantageous for Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) to push the sale of their products to consumers. Many believe the timing is favorable for the software giant and the former world leader in the mobile industry to emerge and regain their position.
Nokia will join Microsoft in the Windows Phone 8 launch event. Nokia is expected to introduce its two new smartphones with code names of “Phi” and “Arrow” during the event on September 5 at New York City.
Shares of Nokia are up 9% at the time of this writing, while shares of Microsoft are up close to 1%.
