ITC will look into Samsung patent claims vs Apple

The International Trade Commission on Wednesday said it would investigate Samsung's complaint against Apple. Its decision determines that the claims are serious enough to verify. Officials will have to set an estimated date for a ruling within the next 45 days.

Most ITC complaints wrap up no more than 16 to 18 months after they've begun.

Samsung filed the complaint in late June as a defensive measure that accused the iPad, iPhone, and iPod of copying patented technology and threatened a ban. Apple had originally focused on a mix of copyright and patent issues but filed an ITC dispute of its own just a week after Samsung in a bid to neutralize the new plans.

A decision on whether or not to go ahead with the countering ITC response is expected soon.

Both companies are at relative stalemates. Samsung only dropped one lawsuit to consolidate its efforts on defense and counterclaims in another. The two have remained committed to working with each other elsewhere, though this is considered by many to be a virtual co-dependency. Apple needs Samsung for flash and procesosr assembly, while Samsung considers Apple its largest chip customer and might not have a choice of dropping a major source of income.

By Electronista Staff