The recent verdict by a US jury directing Samsung to pay damages to Apple, in my opinion, reveals the fear and insecurity among Americans when faced with competition from growing economies. For a jury consisting of ordinary citizens who feel threatened by the decline of the US’ economic power, and at the prospect of their jobs being outsourced to countries that offer a significant cost advantage, to rule in favour of a company from their own country, and whose founder is portrayed as a legendary innovator, is more of an emotional decision influenced by “patriotic” sentiments and self-interest. This can be understood by analyzing and comparing with the results of similar suits involving Apple and Samsung in “neutral” countries (mostly in Europe). Equally thought provoking is the judgement by a South Korean that found both companies infringing on each other’s patents.

There is a good possibility that Samsung will be able to get a favourable outcome by following the due legal process, because I expect judges to be capable of making more informed and fair decisions than a random bunch of commoners. For those  not familiar with how jury works and what can go wrong, the movie 12 Angry Men is a good case. It vividly presents how decisions of jurors are often influenced by their emotions and personal experiences, and how easy it is for mob psychology to set in. Of course, my own decision has to be seen in the light of me not having ever owned an apple device (I think the’re all overpriced and give you zero freedom and flexibility in spite of that).