Samsung is poised to put a spanner in the works of the much-anticipated launch of Apple’s iPhone 5 mobile phone – due to be revealed later this month – by launching a new lawsuit, claiming Apple has infringed its intellectual property on 4G patents.
The legal action could also include injunctions preventing the sale of the new iPhone, as well as the new iPad, launched in March, which also uses 4G technology.
Although it has not been confirmed the new iPhone will have 4G capability, claims have been made in the South Korean press that Apple has already been in talks with 4G networks about carrying the new iPhone.
Samsung is the second-biggest holder of 4G patents after Nokia, holding around 12% of the patents behind 4G, compared to Nokia’s 18%.
The move is the latest twist in the so-called ‘patent wars’. Ten days ago Apple won another round of the battle, netting more than $1bn in compensation from Samsung over copyright infringements. Samsung says it will appeal against this decision, although it has yet to confirm when.
Apple has subsequently asked for a permanent injunction against eight Samsung phones, which will be heard by the court in December.
And in a separate case, Apple has added products, including versions of the Samsung Galaxy S III, in an amended patent infringement complaint before a federal court in California.
