Accused by Samsung of infringing eight patents
Apple’s iPhone 5 became the latest target in the ongoing patents spat with Samsung early today [2nd October 2012] when the Korean giant filed a US lawsuit claiming the new smartphone violated eight of its innovations.
Little detail was given in Samsung’s amended courtroom papers, though the manufacturer did later comment that it has “little option” if it was to protect its rights. Samsung has already accused its Californian rival of infringing its LTE or 4G patents, a technology found in the iPhone 5, but the latest salvo does not specifically refer to this, but instead is said to be more about “utility” patents.
The decision to put Apple’s newest smartphone in the dock comes as federal judge Lucy Koh yesterday lifted an earlier, three month US sales ban on Samsung’s Galaxy 10.1 tab, acknowledging an earlier court ruling that it did not infringe Apple’s tablet design. But Apple may yet seek a permanent injunction when the two sides again clash in court on December 6.
If Apple fails to secure a permanent ban it may lose a $2.6 million bond paid into the court to cover Samsung’s costs. Meanwhile Samsung is still calling for a retrial of the original hearing in which it was ordered to pay more than $1 billion in damages, claiming jury misconduct, while in turn Apple is demanding bans on additional devices and a further $707 million on top of that already awarded.
