Apple-Samsung Patent Dispute Deepens
It is not uncommon to see patent-infringement lawsuits in the mobile industry, and lately, two big players in the field, Apple and Samsung, have decided to get in on the chaos by filing lawsuits against each other.
On 21 April, Apple filed a suit in the Northern District of California, claiming that several Samsung products, including the Galaxy S 4G, the Epic 4G, the Nexus S and the Galaxy Tab, are imitations of Apple's iPhone and iPad. The alleged infringements mostly touch on the hardware design and user interface.
"Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple's technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products," the company said in a statement.
In response to Apple's legal complaint, Samsung said that it will respond actively to protect its intellectual property and ensure its continued innovation and growth. Meanwhile, in a form of tit-for-tat, the South Korean handset maker has countersued Apple in Japan, Germany and its home country. Directed against the iPhone and the iPad, the suits involve a total of 10 mobile technology patents, which mainly concern power reduction during data transmission, 3G technology for reducing errors during data transmission, and wireless data technology. A week after these counterclaims, the manufacturer has escalated its action by filing to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Despite their legal quarrel, Apple still wants the strong relationship between the two companies to remain unchanged. As Apple's Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook stated, Samsung is Apple's chief supplier for components like LCD displays and chipsets, while Apple contributes a significant portion to Samsung's revenue every year. Given their heavy reliance on each other, it is very likely that their business tie will stay strong in the near future.
While the crossfire may not endanger their customer-supplier relationship, it has definitely increased the tension between the already litigious mobile giants. It should be interesting to see how they will resolve their differences in the end.
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