Samsung fined over $340k for defaming rival HTC

A local unit of Samsung has been caught red handed for using fake comments online in order to induce false praise (for itself) and negative impressions for its competitors.
To be specific, Samsung defamed rival company HTC Corp. through hiring writers and designating employees to post negative comments.

Reports say, the company was fined by Taiwan's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday for over $340,000.

It looks like this kind of issue has been going on for Samsung. Earlier this year, a misleading advertisement about a set of camera functions for Galaxy Y Duos GT-S6102 phone pushed Samsung NT to pay a fine of $300,000.

This is perhaps one of the reasons why Samsung had an income drop in the handset market in the period July-September - from 10.3 percent in the 3rd quarter of 2011 to an extremely low 2.6 percent in the 3rd quarter of 2013. (Image: www.cultofandroid.com)