專利訴訟對公司經營戰略之影響 —以台灣代工廠Q公司為例

Abstract

台灣電子代工產業從電視、主機板、桌上型電腦到筆記型電腦，樣樣做到世界第一，筆記型電腦於一九九八年以新台幣八十四億的產值成為台灣第一大資訊硬體出口產品，出貨量並於2000年起超過全球出貨量50%，2007年達到最高峰95%。電子代工產業完整的供應鏈、優異的品質管理及Taiwan Direct Ship高效率一條龍服務使台灣成為全球筆記型電腦生產重鎮，台灣代工廠商成為全球筆記型電腦品牌商最信任的合作夥伴，也成為亞洲競爭廠商的頭號敵人及專利權人眼中的肥羊。擁有豐厚國家資源支持的韓國電子大廠三星及LGE分別在2000年及2001年向廣達、仁寶、大眾、華碩等當時的一線代工廠在筆記型電腦最大市場美國提出專利訴訟，企圖以專利訴訟削弱台灣代工廠的競爭力。而台灣代工廠早期專注在改進生產的品質與效率等核心競爭力，對於自身應有的法律權益及保障，沒有想法也沒有做法，以至於在專利訴訟的領域中總是人為刀殂，我為魚肉；最終只能小輸為贏，付錢買平安。 本研究乃以全球最大的筆記型代工廠Q公司為例，探討Q公司自2000年起所經歷的三個重大美國專利訴訟案，包括二個對美國專利法影響深遠的個案—LGE 及LaserDynamics二案，深入剖析專利訴訟案對企業之影響及Q公司所採取之因應戰略；並藉由個案整理歸納出電子代工廠的因應之道。

From TV, Motherboard, Desktop computer to Notebook Computer, Taiwan manufactures dominate the OEM/ODM industry for decades. In 1998, the Notebook Computer revenue reached NTD8400million and the biggest export sale value of information hardware products of Taiwan. Taiwan Notebook Computer shipping quantity percentage exceeded 50% of worldwide shipment from year 2000 and reached the highest point of 95% in 2007. The comprehensive supplier chain managerment, good quality control, total solution service and Taiwan Direct Ship logistic program of Taiwan OEM/ODM industry made Taiwan the biggest manufacture base of the Notebook Computer products in the world. Taiwan OEM/ODMs became the most trustworth partners of worldwide Notebook Computer branding companies and at the same time, became the biggest competitors of other Asia computer manufactures and the biggest targets of patentees. With plentiful government support and resources, Korea giant manufactures, Samsung and LGE filed patent litigations against Quanta, Compal, First International Computer(FIC) and AsusTek, the first tier Taiwanese OEM/ODMs, in 2000 and 2001, with a purpose to weaken their competitive strength. While Taiwanese OEM/ODMs were paying all their focus on core compentences – the improvement of manufacture quality and efficiency, they did not focus on how to get legal protection on their technologies or knowhow. Therefore, they become the meat on the chopping board and could fight back with nothing to patentees. Settlement with royalty payment became the only resoltion at the end. This case study is using Q Company, the biggest Notebook Computer OEM/ODM in the world, as an example to illustrate how the patent litigation impact business strategy. This study introduces three big patent litigations Q Company experienced starting from 2000, including two important cases in US patent litigation history, LGE and LaserDynamics cases, and furthermore, discusses the impact and Q Company’s adaptive strategy. Finally, to summarize some suggestions for Taiwanese OEM/ODMs’ references.