Last month we learned that Samsung had already set its patent lawsuit sights on Apple's next generation iPhone despite the fact that the device hadn't yet been announced. As most of you know, Apple took the wraps off the iPhone 4S yesterday and, true to its word, Samsung has filed for preliminary injunctions against the 4S in both France and Italy in an attempt to block the new device from going on sale. Samsung alleges that the iPhone 4S infringes on two of the company's related to wireless tech, specifically WCDMA standards for 3G-enabled handsets. Exactly which patents Samsung is referring to isn't yet known, but it's possible that they could be the same patents Samsung used against the iPhone 3G, iPhone 4, iPad, and iPad 2 in a Dutch suit filed last month.
Apple hasn't responded to Samsung's new suits yet, but the Cupertino firm answered the aforementioned Dutch suit by claiming that the patents involved are such a basic part of wireless technology that Samsung should be required to license them for a reasonable price. Considering that Samsung's iPhone 4S suit sounds like it involves patents similar to the ones it's using against Apple in the Netherlands, I wouldn't be surprised to hear the same type of argument from Apple in this new case. We'll let you know if/when Apple does issue an official response.
