Apple Suing Samsung Over Their Android Products

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Today, court records for the US Northern District Court of California show that Apple has filed a lawsuit against Samsung for their Android products, with the Galaxy S 4G, Nexus S and Galaxy Tab named as examples. Just like the previous Android proxy lawsuits we’ve seen filed from Oracle, Apple and Microsoft, these issues relate to Android, and are really an attempt to go after Google. Like the other lawsuits, they claim that the Android devices violate Apple’s patented user interface.

The lawsuit filed with the court claims:

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.

Like the Microsoft-HTC lawsuit and Microsoft-Motorola lawsuit in recent memory, this legal action is really a proxy attack on Google. Microsoft and Apple both think that Android infringes on their patents, albeit different ones. Why not sue Google directly? Google gives away Android for free, and besides, the manufacturers are ultimately responsible for what they put on their phone. Plus, if Apple, Microsoft, Oracle and all these other companies that are stacked up against Google and Android can scare manufacturers into thinking that Android is a patent minefield (where you’re liable to get sued if you put Android on a phone), then they can scare off the competition – and that’s a good day.

When the Wall Street Journal attempted to contact Apple or Samsung, neither provided comment. And as the Journal points out, Apple and Samsung are intertwined. Samsung manufactures the Apple A4 and A5 processors for the Apple iPad, iPad 2 and iPhone 4. Considering Samsung’s fab business is run completely separate from their mobile business, I can’t imagine this affecting business between the two, but Apple has been rumored to be considering switching their chip fab needs over to TSMC in Taiwan.

Patent lawsuits are extremely common in the mobile space, and a lot of times you’ll see them settled with Company A agreeing to pay $0.50 per phone sold to Company B. Obviously, this can hurt Android, considering that one of the huge benefits for manufacturers is that it’s free. But, saddling it down with legal licenses and patent fees will make it more expensive. Lawsuits like these can really hamper the growth of Android in the future. We’ll keep an eye on what happens and keep you posted.