Samsung takes on Apple in US with patent lawsuit

Samsung escalated the war of words against Apple on Thursday with a formal lawsuit. The Delaware complaint followed just days after an ITC dispute and alleged that the iPad, iPhone, and iPod were copying "many of Samsung's innovations." The Korean company has already sued Apple outside of the US but largely avoided the country until this week.

Lawsuits in tandem with ITC complaints are common and have been used in the recently resolved Apple-Nokia fight among others. ITC complaints can help avoid a full trial at a lawsuit by more quickly determining whether or not one side is violating the other's patents. Most such cases frequently lead to an out-of-court settlement.

Apple began the conflict when it sued Samsung for supposedly copying iPad and iPhone design with the Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab, eventually including the Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab 10.1 in its claims as well. Samsung was quick to respond, and the two have legal battles going on in Korea as well as Germany and Japan.

In spite of the public animosity, Apple and Samsung have said they would remain business partners in other areas. The two are mutually dependent as Apple needs displays, flash memory, and processor manufacturing where Samsung considers Apple one of its largest customers.

By Electronista Staff