Legal Business: Ethics, IP, and Customer Interests

This discussion board post analyzes the ethical considerations in legal business, focusing on the balance between a for-profit corporation's needs and those of its customers, particularly in the context of intellectual property. The post references a case opener from the course textbook concerning the legal battles between Apple and Samsung over patent infringement, highlighting the companies' work responsibility and its impact on their brand images. It then explores the issue from a biblical perspective, referencing Philippians 2:3 to emphasize the importance of considering others' needs above one's own. The author argues that companies should prioritize customer needs, build favorable relationships, and conduct operations accordingly. The assignment addresses the ethical dilemma of protecting intellectual property while considering the impact on consumers and the broader market, advocating for a balance that benefits both the company and its customers. The post also includes a reference list.

1Running Head: LEGAL BUSINESS
Legal Business
Author’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Legal Business
Balance of Business Needs with Customers’ Needs
For-profit corporations such as Apple and Samsung have the intention to earn maximum
profits at the end of every fiscal year for coping up with intense business market competition,
thereby ensuring long-term sustainability in the respective industries wherein they operate. These
corporations are likely to face problems in continuing their respective businesses in the targeted
markets if the expenses are not met as per the desired level. Customers are regarded as one of the
important stakeholders of the companies, who support them to attain long-term success by
satisfying their desired requirements. Similarly, the business firms also need to comply with the
needs of the customers, which could be made possible by identifying their individual purchase
intentions and thereby providing them with their preferred products and/or services on time.
Thus, a for-profit corporation should balance its business needs with the customers’ requirements
by identifying their individual values and raising their satisfaction level over time. These can be
made possible by forming, developing and maintaining successful communication with the
customers on an ongoing basis.
Work Responsibility towards Benefitting the Consumers more than Themselves
Every for-profit organization needs to perform its business operations and activities in a
way so that the customers are benefitted in one way or the other. This is because the customers
are the ones who purchase their preferred products and/or services from the respective
organizations and thereby support them to increase huge profits. In relation to the given case, it
was clear that the two biggest smartphone companies namely Samsung and Apple had the work
responsibility for themselves, rather than benefitting the consumers. For instance, as per the
given case information, both the companies filed different patent infringement suits against one

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another into the courts throughout the globe with the intent of competing for one another. This
clearly reflects the fact that the two companies i.e. Apple and Samsung possessed the work
responsibility more than themselves apart from benefitting the customers. This, in turn, affects
their respective brand images in the worldwide smartphone industry at large. It is worth
mentioning in this context that the work accountability of the business corporations work
towards benefitting the customers more than themselves, thereby depending on consumer social
responsibility.
Biblical Overview
The issue concerning the fight of the companies to safeguard their individual rights
regarding intellectual properties (IPs) can also be better comprehended from a biblical
perspective. It is the Bible Verse of Philippians 2:3, which can be related to this issue, stating
that “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better
than yourselves” (Fairchild, 2019). To be precise, this bible verse conveys a motivating message
or thought i.e. “Consider Others Better than Yourself”, which is applicable for a company that
tends to protect their respective IPs. As per the stated biblical verse, if I were running a company,
I would have definitely considered the needs of the individual customers, recognized their
values, built a favorable relationship with them and likewise conducted varied operational
functions. These factors need to be considered by every business firm for generating favorable
outcomes in the future.

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Reference
Fairchild, M. (2019). Learn religions. Retrieved September 21, 2019, from
https://www.learnreligions.com/consider-others-better-than-yourself-philippians-23-
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