In certain technology circles, NVIDIA is a household name. They are the current market leaders in dedicated graphics chips for computers, they have had graphics processors in various home video game consoles, they have effectively cornered the professional workstation market, and they even have a series of powerful and successful Android devices. They may not be known to all, but they are a $5 billion a year technology powerhouse.
Samsung is not intimidated by any of that in the least bit, however, as they are taking on NVIDIA and 11 other related tech companies for copyright infringement. The patent filing, which took place at the US International Trade Commission, it trying to prevent NVIDIA from selling any products in the US, as well as increase Samsung’s portion of revenue from joint business ventures.
This move came as a shock to some, even more so because Samsung is seeking to put a halt to NVIDIA’s entire product line, effectively grinding the $4.7 billion (2015 revenue) machine to a halt. Taiwan Semiconductor Corporation (easily one of the largest computer chip manufacturers in the world) has jumped in to help NVIDIA though, filing a countersuit against Samsung and trying to block them from dragging 12 companies through a costly, extended legal battle.
It is unknown how this case will play out, but if Samsung wins, NVIDIA’s profits will be drastically reduced, as Samsung will get to name their price for cross-licensing deals and will also be paid for every single product NVIDIA wishes to release currently, and into the future.