Samsung discloses plans to cite iPhone 5 in Korean patent suit against Apple

Sep 19, 2011 12:02 GMT  ·  By

Korea-based Electronics maker Samsung is attempting to ban the sale of Apple’s iPhone 5 in its home land, in what can only intensify the duo’s already critical spat in court rooms.

Even though one makes processor chips and displays for the other to use in its phones and tablets to sell, Samsung and Apple are not shy of badmouthing each other in court, and the latest such move proves none of them is backtracking on their actions one bit.

After successfully convincing the court to ban Samsung’s portables in several territories around the globe citing patent infringement related to design, Apple is faced with an upcoming charge on behalf of Samsung’s lawyers who will attempt to prove to the court that the iPhone 5, whenever it’s released, infringes upon Samsung wireless patents secured in Korea.

A source has told the Korean Times that Samsung will immediately try to get the iPhone 5 banned in Korea as soon as it’s released, by using a patent lawsuit.

The paper claims to have obtained confirmation from an actual Samsung executive, who reportedly said that Apple’s new iPhone will almost certainly break their wireless patents.

The executive specifically said, "Just after the arrival of the iPhone 5 here, Samsung plans to take Apple to court here for its violation of Samsung’s wireless technology related patents,” according to the report.

"For as long as Apple does not drop mobile telecommunications functions, it would be impossible for it to sell its i-branded products without using our patents. We will stick to a strong stance against Apple during the lingering legal fights," the Samsung executive added.

Of course, Samsung is yet to succeed banning any iDevice anywhere based on its wireless technology patents, so it won’t be easy to have the phone banned in Korea so soon. Then again, Apple did it, so why wouldn’t Samsung?