Samsung Responds And Takes A Bite At Apple

The Samsung and Apple patent lawsuit is following a familiar pattern with Samsung counter-suing.

The South Korean company claims that Apple has infringed patents relating to optimisation and the reduction of power usage during data transmission, telecoms technology for reducing data errors, and tethering a mobile phone to a PC for data transmission.

A Touch Of Tit For Tat

In Apple’s 373-page filing against Samsung, the company is accused of “slavishly” copying both the iPhone and the iPad. Apple’s California-filed suit does not stop at the appearance of the Samsung products but also includes packaging and the user interface.

In its counter-suits, Samsung has filed in its home city Seoul on five counts of patent infringement, in Tokyo for two instances, and in Germany citing three transgressions.

“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 in a prepared statement.

The move is seen as a gamble by Apple because Samsung is the major supplier of microchips, flat screens and other electronic parts for its full range of hardware. The safety net for Apple is that it has tied itself to Samsung with long-term contracts that would be difficult, and expensive, if either tried to dissolve the agreements. Apple is also said to be such a larger consumer of the South Korean products that it receives larger discounts than some of Samsung’s own divisions.

Analyst James Song of Daewoo Securities said that he believes Apple is trying to stall the market gains that the leading Android phone manufacturer has made recently. Based on other cross-tied court disputes, there is a very good chance that the litigants will reach an out-of-court settlement.

The court actions will be a distraction for Samsung as it is on the verge of launching its latest Android-based Galaxy S II smartphone. The company is also finalising three new versions of its Galaxy Tab. This will see a 10.1in, dual-core tablet and two slimmed-down versions with 8.9in and 10.1in displays. These will join its current seven-inch model.

Samsung joins a chain of patent litigation with Nokia suing Apple, and Apple suing both HTC and Motorola as these leading players primarily jockey for position in the £100 billion smartphone market.