Samsung and Apple have traded more legal blows than we care to count since Apple first sued Samsung back in April, but now it looks like we could begin to see even more suits between the two firms pop up in the future. In a recent interview, Lee Younghee, head of global marketing for mobile communications at Samsung, claimed that Apple has been "free riding" on Samsung's patents and said that Samsung intends to act "in a more aggressive way" going forward. "We've been quite respectful and also passive in a way," Lee said, suggesting that Samsung has refrained from going on the offensive too often due to Apple and Samsung's supplies relationships in the past. "However, we shouldn't be ... anymore."
Speaking of being more aggressive, it's been revealed that Samsung has filed suit in the Netherlands against Apple. The lawsuit alleges that Apple has infringed on some of Samsung's 3G-related patents. Samsung is seeking a ban on the 3G-enabled iOS devices including, but not limited to, the iPhone 3G, iPhone 4, iPad, and iPad 2. Apple has responded to Samsung's suit by claiming that the patents in question are so basic to wireless tech that they should fall into FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) conditions, meaning that Samsung would be required to license the patents for a reasonable price.
Samsung has already been the instigator of a few suits of its own in the ongoing battle between Apple, so it's interesting to hear that the Korean company plans to be more aggressive in the future. Does that mean we'll see even more litigation (oh joy) brought against Apple? Lee Younghee didn't specify exactly how Samsung plans to be more aggressive, but it definitely sounds like more lawsuits could be in the cards. Stay tuned.
Via MacRumors, AP, Webwereld.nl
