Samsung Electronics to Become One of World’s Top Three in Patent-Holders in Three Years

“Technology is the only way for our survival in the future, and patents are at the center of it. We should take off to become one of the world’s top three in that in three years.”

From the outset of this year, vice president and CEO of Samsung Electronics Yun Jong-yong pushed forward a strong drive emphasizing the value of “patent management.”

It is understood as a countermeasure against foreign companies which took the offensive, filing patent lawsuits last year.

Samsung Electronics announced on Sunday that it would become one of the world’s top five players by applying for approximately 2,000 patents in 2005 and 2006 respectively, (on the basis of patent applications in the U.S.) and stand third by 2007.

At a New Year`s meeting of management, Vice President Yoon asked for firm and dramatic measures, saying that technology will determine the future, and that patents are at the center of it.

“We should get away from quantitative perspectives. The key is holing more high quality patents that will help us brace for the future,” the vice chairman emphasized.

Samsung Electronics spent 1.5 trillion won on patent payments in 2004 and it is likely to face great pressure because the expenditure will increase to 2.5 trillion.

It plans to increase the number of experts in charge of patents from the current 250 to 450 by 2010, and strengthen its own talent base with patent attorneys and lawyers who specialize in U.S. patents.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics ranked sixth with 1,604 patent applications, beating Intel with 1,601 in the number of patents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2004.

Do-Young Kim nirvana1@donga.com