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Samsung's catch-up with Sony: an analysis using US patent data

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  • Si Joo
  • Keun Lee

Abstract

This paper examines Samsung Electronics’ catch-up with Sony in terms of technological capabilities and investigates the various aspects of the change in the two firms’ technological characteristics in the course of the catch-up. Using the US patents of the two firms as a basis, this paper finds that in terms of the quantity of patents, Samsung Electronics’ catch-up with Sony happened around the mid-1990s, and in terms of the quality of patents, Samsung Electronics’ catch-up occurred earlier, at the beginning of the 1990s. In addition, Samsung Electronics has come to be more independent from Sony, proving that Samsung Electronics has gone beyond simply imitating and applying Sony's technology. This paper also analyzes the other aspects of catch-up, namely the generality and the originality of the knowledge base, technology cycle and appropriability. Samsung Electronics caught up with Sony in terms of sales, corporate value and brand value only after the 2000s. Our study shows that technological catch-up precedes the catch-up in other dimensions. This implies that technological catch-up sets the stage for value- and brand-value-based catch-up.

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  • Si Joo & Keun Lee, 2010. "Samsung's catch-up with Sony: an analysis using US patent data," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 271-287.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rjapxx:v:15:y:2010:i:3:p:271-287
    DOI: 10.1080/13547860.2010.494907
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    Cited by:

    1. Joo, SH & Oh, C & Lee, Keun, 2016. "Catch-up Strategy of an Emerging Firm in an Emerging Country: Analyzing the Case of Huawei vs. Ericsson with Patent Data," MPRA Paper 109958, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Kim, Dong-hyu, 2022. "Effects of catch-up and incumbent firms’ SEP strategic manoeuvres," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(5).
    3. Ju, Xiaosheng & Jiang, Shengjun & Zhao, Qifeng, 2023. "Innovation effects of academic executives: Evidence from China," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(3).
    4. Chan-Yuan Wong & Keun Lee, 2022. "Evolution of innovation systems of two industrial districts in East Asia: transformation and upgrade from a peripheral system and the role of the core firms, Samsung and TSMC," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 32(3), pages 955-990, July.
    5. Lee, Keun, 2020. "Diverse Tools of Industrial Policy in Korea: A Schumpterian and Capability-based View," MPRA Paper 111035, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Guo, Yanting & Zheng, Gang, 2019. "How do firms upgrade capabilities for systemic catch-up in the open innovation context? A multiple-case study of three leading home appliance companies in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 36-48.
    7. Murat A. Yülek & Gilberto Santos, 2022. "Why Income Gaps Persist: Productivity Gaps, (No-)Catch-up and Industrial Policies in Developing Countries," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(1), pages 158-183, January.
    8. Lei Guo & Marina Yue Zhang & Mark Dodgson & David Gann & Hong Cai, 2019. "Seizing windows of opportunity by using technology-building and market-seeking strategies in tandem: Huawei’s sustained catch-up in the global market," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 849-879, September.

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