Samsung has taken Apple's iPhone 5 to court, claiming that the 4-inch smart phone steps all over the Galaxy S3-maker's patents.
The latest development in an increasingly eye-roll-inducing back-and-forth battle, Samsung has added Apple's new smart phone to a list of products accused of infringing eight Samsung patents, Foss Patents reports.
Samsung's move was expected -- the shipbuilding-smart phone company threatened to drag the iPhone 5 into the legal fracas back in September.
"We have always preferred to compete in the marketplace with our innovative products, rather than in a courtroom," Samsung said in a statement sent to CNET UK. "However, Apple continues to take aggressive legal action that will restrict market competition," it went on to explain.
"Under those circumstances", Samsung says, "we have little recourse but to take the steps necessary to protect our innovations and intellectual property rights."
Samsung certainly paints itself as the victim of an all-out Apple assault with that statement. The South Korean firm was recently ordered to pay Apple a billion dollars, as a US court determined that Samsung was guilty of copying the iPhone and iPad.
That's pocket-change to companies this massive, but the verdict hasn't seen any end to the ongoing legal fighting that's taking place all over the world. Samsung will doubtless be hoping that it can get the iPhone 5 banned from sale.
Apple's new, taller mobile has been well-received but has its own share of problems, not least of which is a seriously dodgy new Maps app. Tim Cook has issued a personal apology for the company's cartographical calamity.
Personally I'm finding the legal actions of both companies a shade tiresome -- but perhaps you think there's merit to these courtroom conflicts? Tell me how you feel about Samsung taking the iPhone 5 to court in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 12
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Ichi_Bear 2 October, 2012 15:21
*Yawn* This whole thing is getting stale now! Apple and Samsung need to draw a line under this whole situation and move on :-\
anonymous 2 October, 2012 15:32
To be honest Apple had this coming. They have been suing companies like Samsung for things like the humble rectangle with round edges and other patients (mostly software) for quite a while now.
I am not surprised that Samsung have done this one bit. You can't keep slapping someone (or another company in this case) in the face, without them hitting back. Especially when the company in question has a patient catalogue like Samsung does (80,000 I think).
I personnally would rather companies just made good tech, but like all things in technology. But it seems the space for making new tech and ideas is running out and they are all treading on each others toes, or they are using the patient system to stop the competition for producing new Phones. If this is the case then we the consumer are the losers as the big companies get richer on money we spend on their phones/tech and the money the win from each other in these law suits.
A judge in america wants to change the US Patient laws (see below article from BBC.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19800342
anonymous 2 October, 2012 15:32
Lets hope this court case isn't held in America with Judge Koh
anonymous 2 October, 2012 15:34
I agree lets hope not
anonymous 2 October, 2012 15:59
I am not really sure if this will end. Well obviously it has to end, but for it to end someone has to win.
Samsung can't give up and say it's had enough, because Apple will go after it with a Steamroller. Apple can't give up, because it admits that it was wrong and it will look like Apple has been using the Patient system to try and take down Samsung. It seems to be all about Corporate image and honour.
anonymous 2 October, 2012 17:41
Apple had it coming.
anonymous 2 October, 2012 17:58
"Lets hope this court case isn't held in America with Judge Koh" How that man became a judge is beyond me, I hope to god it isn't him.
While Samsung have me as a happy customer, and I don't approve of all this suing, go get em Sammy, I've got tired of Apple being the original inventor to all things modern.... not considering Windows Mobile was ahead of them :\
Ooops, not supposed to say that, sorry might apple
Ichi_Bear 2 October, 2012 18:40
Lol. I'm a Samsung customer too. I agree with some of the comments. Apple did have it coming. I hope Samsung win the case, and then that will be the end of it. And yeah, lets hope this isn't thrashed out in a US court! ;-)
Duncan Tipler 2 October, 2012 18:47
I have had every single model of the iPhone up to the 4s. Apple's litigation actually brought the S3 to my attention, and I'm glad they did. I'm now the owner of an S3 and in my opinion it is far superior to the Apple icon. The iPhone 5 to me seems outdated and nothing more than a big 4s. Basically it's over estimated, overpriced and unfortunately over here in the UK (or will be). Apple need to pay more attention to r&d and less to spiteful bully boy tactics. For me - I have sold my iPhone and iPad and am busy looking for the best price for my new Samsung Tablet. Thank you Apple for helping me find a better quality product.
Stuart Perchard 2 October, 2012 20:41
It's rather funny that now Samsung has gone on the defensive that people find it a shade tiresome. I say go for it Samsung get your own back big time. I never liked apple products and never will, all there "NEW" editions are just a little bit better than the last and your supposed to bung out big bucks for them. take the 4s over the 4 major ariel problems which were denied, by the way the 4s was supposed to be the 5 now the 5 with the cheap grade aluminium chipping, haven't heard of aerospace grade, nah and the map fiasco. And they got the cheek to call themselves innovative.
Buster 3 October, 2012 11:33
Samsung should fight back against Apple in every way they can. So should Google, HTC and any other company that can see that Apple have gone mad with power.
anonymous 3 October, 2012 14:17
I laugh at how all the Applefags are now 'bored' of all these legal issues now it is the iPhone being targeted. Grow the hell up, what goes around comes around - Just stop being butthurt about it.
As for the CNET Editors, I have lost all faith in anything you say, get your head out of Apples ass just because they shower you with gifts - And truly type up un-biased opinions. Who are you to tell us it's getting tiresome? You was ALL up for it when it was Apple on the offensive.