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Microsoft sues Samsung over Android Patent Fees

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Microsoft says Samsung failed to pay it on schedule for the use of its inventions and has begun legal action in New York.

In a blog, the US firm said Samsung had used Microsoft’s takeover of Nokia’s handset unit “as an excuse to breach its contract”.

Samsung has said: “We will review the complaint in detail and determine appropriate measures in response.”

The case marks the first time that Microsoft has launched legal action against Samsung.

The two companies have a long-running partnership, due to the Asian manufacturer’s sale of Windows PCs and Windows Phone handsets.

Although Microsoft is best known for its own Windows operating system, it also claims ownership to hundreds of patents relating to Google’s Android OS.

It has pursued many Android device-makers for related licence fees and to date has struck deals with more than 25 companies, including HTC, Acer, ZTE and Nikon.

Samsung agreed to Microsoft’s demands in September 2011 and made its first year’s payment the following year.

But a censored copy of court papers filed by Microsoft’s lawyer, and posted online by news site Geekwire, indicate that Samsung blocked a second payment after learning of the Nokia deal in September 2013.

Although the documents state that Samsung later paid the fee in November 2013, Microsoft claims it is still owed money to cover the interest on the sum over the period it was not paid.

In addition the US company is unhappy that Samsung is reserving the right not to make future payments.

It also complains that Samsung has asked the Korean competition authorities to intervene to eliminate the need for future fees – a matter that Microsoft says would be outside the regulators’ authority.

Furthermore, the papers suggest Samsung has threatened Microsoft with its own patent infringement claims relating to the Nokia takeover.

“Microsoft values and respects our partnership with Samsung and expects it to continue. We are simply asking the court to settle our disagreement, and we are confident the contract will be enforced,” wrote David Howard, deputy general counsel for Microsoft, on the firm’s blog.

Samsung declined to discuss any of the specific claims.

Microsoft has never disclosed how much it makes from its Android patents, but analysts have estimated the figure is between $1bn (£595m) to $2bn a year.

One company watcher said Microsoft would be keen to avoid a precedent that other firms might try to make use of to cancel their own payments.

“The fear would be that this case could develop into a revenue stream leakage that would be difficult to tap,” said Windsor Holden, research director at Juniper Research.


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Substandard CNG Cylinder is Recipe for Disaster- SON

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Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has warned the public against the use of substandard and uncertified Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders.

 

The warning is coming in the wake of the unfortunate recent incident of CNG cylinder explosion at the NIPCO CNG Refueling Station in Benin City, Edo State.

In a statement, the organisation said it has put robust and effective regulatory measures in place to ensure that all CNG equipment and conversion kits conform to approved standards before being certified for public use.

“The conformity assessment schemes are designed to prevent the import, manufacturing, and use of substandard products,” it stated.

In addition, SON said it is collaborating with the Presidential Initiatives on CNG and other relevant government bodies to finalise the Nigerian Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS) – a platform that will provide centralized monitoring and surveillance of CNG systems to ensure that only vehicles equipped with certified conversion kits can access gas at retail outlets.

“The NGVMS will also offer a database of approved CNG equipment and suppliers which will go a long way in preventing the substandard installations and further mitigating the associated risks.”

 

 

 


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Access Bank Wins Best Digital, Best Website at 2024 Digital Jurist Awards

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Access Bank PLC has been named the 2024 Best Digital Award Winner in the Commercial Banks Category at the Digital Jurist Awards, organized by Phillips Consulting (pcl.).

In addition to this top honour, the Bank also secured the Best Website Award, achieving an impressive score of 201 points for its engaging and user-friendly digital experience. Access Bank’s cumulative score of 380 points reflects its excellence across digital touchpoints, including its website, web portal, mobile app, and social media.

Commenting on the recognition, Amaechi Okobi, Chief Communications Officer of Access Holdings PLC, said, “We are honoured to receive the Best Digital and Best Website Awards at this year’s Digital Jurist Awards. At Access, our focus on digital innovation is driven by our commitment to deliver seamless, secure, and customer-centric solutions across all touchpoints.

This recognition validates our ongoing efforts to enhance our digital platforms, making financial services more accessible and efficient for our customers. We thank Phillips Consulting for recognising our efforts and will continue to raise the bar in digital excellence.”

Phillips Consulting has long served as a development partner to Nigerian financial institutions and other organisations with an online presence. Leveraging its proprietary Digital Jurist platform, the firm has conducted assessments of digital touchpoints in various sectors, from financial services and insurance to telecommunications and government agencies, over the past 17 years.

Originally established as Web Jurist®, the platform was reimagined as Digital Jurist to assess new and diversified digital channels in the evolving digital economy. Digital Jurist’s evaluation framework examines a range of factors, including user experience, accessibility, performance, functionality, security, customer service, support, marketing, and content engagement across digital platforms.

These awards reinforce Access Bank’s leadership in digital banking, adding to recent accolades including 2024 Best Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App by World Finance, Best Mobile Banking App and Best Digital Bank by The Digital Banker Awards, and Best Digital Banking Initiative at the Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards 2024.

 


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Foreign Secretary Lammy Unveils Flagship UK-Nigeria Soft Power Campaign

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Rt Hon David Lammy MP, has launched a flagship soft power campaign ‘Jollof and Tea’, which celebrates the UK and Nigeria’s cultural and creative ties.

L-R: UK Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Jonny Baxter; Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon David Lammy MP; and High Commissioner, Dr. Richard Montgomery… at the British Residence during the launch of the ‘Jollof and Tea’ campaign yesterday in Lagos.

He unveiled the campaign at a reception yesterday in Lagos, on his first visit to Africa as UK Foreign Secretary.

Hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr Jonny Baxter, the reception was attended by, the Nigerian Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism & Creative Economy, Hon. Musawa Hannatu, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, CEO of British Film Institute (BFI), Ben Roberts, and other key figures in the creative industry.

At the launch, the UK Foreign Secretary unveiled a first of its kind phone booth, designed by Frederick ‘Dricky’ Stickman, a young, talented Nigerian graffiti and visual artist, based in Lagos.

He reiterated the UK’s commitment to encouraging talent in Nigeria and diaspora, pledging the UK’s support to strengthen partnerships in the creatives sector to benefit both our economies, including through the British Council which celebrated its 80th anniversary in Nigeria (and 90 years globally) this year.

Commenting on the campaign, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Mr. Jonny Baxter said: “The ‘Jollof and Tea’ campaign is designed to showcase the length and breadth of the UK – Nigeria partnership including the creative and cultural sectors.

“It will help raise awareness about the existing connections between the UK and Nigeria and take forward ongoing efforts by both our countries to strengthen our people-to-people links.”

While in Lagos, the Foreign Secretary attended the closing evening of Art X West Africa’s leading art fair and took a tour of the exhibition alongside Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, founder of Art X.

He also had a mini- bilateral meeting with Hon. Minister Hannatu, to understand Nigeria’s ideas for collaboration with the UK, and how the recently launched UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade & Investment Partnership (ETIP) can help drive growth in the creative industries.


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