ITU wants to bring smartphone makers to peace talks, hash out patent wars

Jul 6, 2012 // No Comment // Categories: Mobile, Tech // Tags: differences, international, itu, patent, patent war, patentroundtable, patents, samsung, standards essential, stereotype.

The United Nations defines the stereotype of a peace broker, so it’s not that far-fetched to hear that its International Telecommunication Union ( ITU ) wing is hoping to step in and cool down the rapidly escalating patent world war . The organization plans to convene a Patent Roundtable on October 10th — in neutral Geneva, Switzerland, of course — to have smartphone makers, governments and standards groups try and resolve some of their differences. Those mostly concerned about Apple’s actions won’t be happy with the focus of the sit-down, however. Most of the attention will surround allegations that companies are abusing standards-based patents, which will put the heat largely on a Google-owned Motorola as well as Samsung . Still, there’s hope when the the ITU’s Secretary-General Dr. Hamadoun Tour� talks of desiring a “balancing act” between what patent holders want and what customers need