Samsung is one of the leading brands in the cell phone and tablet markets. From a design point of view, these two devices still seem to have room for development. By filing a design patent for the concept of a foldable screen, Samsung intends to revolutionize the portable and connected digital sector in the coming years.
A screen that transforms
Adapting to customer needs is a new ambition for the Korean brand. We’ve seen its Flex model, with a smartphone that can take the curvature of the body or clothing, but it probably wasn’t the global success we’d hoped for. After all, what’s the use of a screen that’s simply flexible, and in a limited way? Would users really take this hardware element as a decisive factor in their purchasing process?
With a screen that folds, Samsung is thinking of a new use. It would be a tablet that could be transformed into a smartphone. We’d then have a single device that could be used for several purposes at once. At a time when high-performance laptops have replaced desktop computers in most homes, this seems a plausible bet.
How will competitors respond?
By keeping an eye on patents filed in your sector, it’s easy to become aware of your competitors’ development projects. When you obtain a patent for an invention, you have a monopoly on its exploitation. In return, the patent is published, as was the case for Samsung’s folding screen patent. Apple, Nokia and Blackberry have all discovered Samsung’s plans for smartphone technology. These companies can now double their efforts to develop an even more alternative solution themselves, or one that will better convince customers.
We note that the company has registered its design in Korea, and extended it to the United States.
An industrial property title, such as a design patent or a patent for invention, is a national title. And in the case of a company with a cross-border market, it’s essential to protect your invention in all the countries where your products are sold!
