Samsung isn’t taking Apple’s copycat accusations lying down. The electronics giant has filed suits against the Cupertino, Calif.-based company alleging the iPhone and iPad trespass on its patents.
The Samsung countersuit comes just days after Apple flat-out accused the company of stealing ideas from the iPad and the iPhone. On Friday, Apple filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Northern California that alleges Samsung trespassed on its patents and its trademark with the Galaxy product line, which includes the Galaxy S smartphone and the Galaxy Tab tablet.
Samsung filed suits in South Korea, Japan and Germany. It cited 10 alleged infringements on patents that deal with power reduction during data transmission, wireless data communication technology, and 3G technology for lowering the error rate in data transmissions.
Mismatched Patents
“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,” Samsung said.
The suit is especially interesting because Samsung is a major Apple supplier. Indeed, Apple is Samsung’s most significant client. Apple acquires chips, LCD displays, and other components from the electronics giant. The lawsuit could put a permanent strain on the relationship.
Samsung is well patented, though much of its patent activity is in hardware. Much of Apple’s hardware is still acquired from companies like Qualcomm, which is also well patented. The patent mismatch means Apple’s defense against Samsung should be fairly strong.
Pursuing a Judgment
“Companies like Samsung have no software portfolio whatsoever. It’s going to be an interesting test case because Samsung could be one of the best-protected of the firms Apple runs up against, and if Apple is successful here, a lot of other firms are going to be very worried,” said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.
“Apple may want to…
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