Even before it has even appeared on shelves, the iPhone 5 already is set for a lawsuit. Samsung plans to challenge Apple in court to prevent the next-generation handset reaching South Korean soil, according to a Monday report.
“Just after the arrival of the iPhone 5 here, Samsung plans to take Apple to court for its violation of Samsung’s wireless technology related patents,” an unnamed Samsung senior executive told the Korea Times. Since April, the two companies have filed 23 lawsuits against each other in courts around the world.
Another unnamed Samsung executive is quoted saying the South Korean company is “quite confident” in its legal position. So far, Apple has gained a permanent sales injunction in Germany, with Samsung voluntarily holding off on Australian sales while a judge there waits for more data. Apple has also filed suit in Japan against Samsung.
Although the two companies are embroiled in multiple lawsuits, Samsung remains a supplier for the tech giant. This thorny ‘frenemy’ status again came to light when unnamed Samsung officials informed the South Korean publication the iPhone 5 would include near-field technology allowing the handset to serve as an e-wallet. One hitch: Apple has never confirmed it will offer such a feature. Last week, a former Samsung U.S. manager told a court he had leaked supply data about the yet-unnamed and unreleased iPad in 2009.
