14 DAY TRIAL // South Korean mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics has just announced that it has filed three lawsuits against the United States-based computer maker Apple, actively responding to a patent infringement lawsuit Apple filed in the United States against Samsung.
The leading handset vendor claims that Apple is infringing a number of no less than ten patents with its products in various markets around the world.
This would be only the beginning of a legal battle that Samsung plans against the iPhone maker, with more lawsuits to follow, including one in the United States.
Here's what the second largest phone maker in the world announced:
On April 21, Samsung Electronics filed a lawsuit in the Seoul Central District Court, Korea against Apple Inc. citing five patent infringements.
Separately, Samsung filed a suit in a court in Tokyo, Japan citing two patent infringements, and in Manheim, Germany citing three patent infringements.
Samsung is responding actively to the legal action taken against us in order to protect our intellectual property and to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communications business.
The handset vendor claims that Apple's iPhone and iPad devices infringe patents related to wireless data communications, power controls and data transmissions.
A week ago, Apple filed a suit against Samsung with the U.S. district court in Northern California, alleging that the latter's new mobile phones are ripping off the iPhone and iPad devices.
Apple claims that some of Samsung's Android-based products, including Galaxy S, Nexus S, Epic 4G or Galaxy Tab would copy the outer design of its own devices, and that they also landed on shelves with UI's that are replicating Apple's interface.
Apple and Samsung have a buyer-supplier relationship in semiconductors and displays, and they are expected to seek an out-of-court settlement, Industry watchers suggest, a recent article on Yonhap News reads.
Apple did announce that they plan on keeping Samsung as supplier for various components.
We should also note that Samsung is not the only mobile phone maker that Apple engaged into legal battles with. HTC, Motorola and Nokia are among the companies involved in lawsuits against Apple over patent violations.