Samsung Seeks Injunction Against Apple in Dutch Court

Apple and Samsung are locked in a fierce patent dispute, with Samsung accusing Apple of not obtaining licenses to use 3G mobile technology in its devices. The case marks the latest round in a series of claims and counterclaims of patent breaches playing out in courtrooms around the world. Samsung is seeking an injunction that would block the sale of iPads and iPhones in the Netherlands, while Apple argues that Samsung is trying to use patents to stifle competition.

Key Takeaways:

• Samsung has accused Apple of not obtaining licenses to use 3G mobile technology in its devices, citing a breach of patent rights.
• Apple has countered by accusing Samsung of copying its iPhone and iPad designs, and using patent disputes to "hold Apple hostage".
• Samsung holds numerous patents covering wireless telecommunications technology, which it claims Apple is "free riding" on.
• A court in Dusseldorf, Germany, ruled earlier this month that Samsung cannot sell its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany due to its similar design to the iPad2.
• Samsung has pledged to take a bolder stance in battling Apple in courts, with a Samsung executive saying the company will be "pursuing our rights for this in a more aggressive way from now on".

Statistics:

• 3G mobile technology is the Universal Mobile Telecommunications Standard (UMTS), commonly known by the acronym UMTS.
• Apple's lawyers have argued that because UMTS technology has been adopted as the industry standard for mobile telecommunications, Samsung is under a legal obligation to offer licenses for patents that underpin the standard on "fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory" terms.
• Samsung's initial offer for a license was deemed "exorbitant" by Apple's legal team.
• The court battle is one of several playing out in the US, South Korea, Australia, and Germany, as Apple and Samsung engage in a global patent dispute.

Sources:

• The Associated Press