Samsung Sues Apple for Patent Infringement in France

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Patent litigation among mobile device manufacturers has become an international drama of sorts, with each brand seeking a forum in different regions and countries. In the most recent turn of events, Samsung has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple in France.

Apple and Samsung have been in a long-standing legal dispute for their product designs. Apple alleges that Samsung stole design ideas from its iPhone and iPad — including product packaging — with the intent of deceiving customers into buying the Galaxy series tablets and smartphones. Meanwhile, Samsung says the same of Apple.

This time around, Samsung is suing on the basis of technology patents rather than design. In particular, the complaint “focuses on three technology patents, and not the design of the tablets,” according to a Samsung spokesperson. The complaint was actually filed July of this year, although Samsung expects hearings to start in December. According to sources, these patents relate to three UMTS-related technologies that Samsung claims to own. The patent dispute affects Apple’s iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPhone 4, as well as the 3G-capable iPad and iPad 2.

Apart from this lawsuit in France, Apple and Samsung are contesting each other’s intellectual property in the U.S., Germany, Australia, Japan and South Korea. Apple has actually been successful in requesting certain jurisdictions to ban the sale of some models of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, particularly in Germany. Samsung says they will appeal this decision.

Whatever the result of these lawsuits, experts say that the patent wars are not about to end soon. We wonder, though, why the companies involved don’t just sit down and talk about possible settlements or partnerships, just like what Apple and Nokia did with an exchange-deal. Is it all just a ruse, in order to generate buzz about products and attention to their brands? Are companies genuinely interested in innovation rather than profits? Are patent lawyers getting richer by the minute (and in several currencies, too)?