Samsung is asking a Dutch court to force Apple to pay patent licensing fees or impose a ban on iPhone and iPad sales. The lawsuit announced Friday comes on the heels of the South Korean company warning it will be more aggressive with the tech giant.
The complaint, filed at The Haugue, alleges Apple infringes upon four 3G wireless technologies. Samsung is asking the court both ban all iPhones and the 3G version of the iPad. Also, the chipmaker wants the court to fine Apple $1.34 million for each supposed violation.
However, Apple could quickly find a way out of the lawsuit by paying Samsung a “reasonable” licensing fee. Because the patents are deemed “essential,” European law requires the Galaxy and Galaxy Tab manufacturer to offer rivals a chance to license the technology. A court date is scheduled next Monday.
The lawsuit follows Apple’s successful legal challenge to Samsung’s Galaxy Tab sales in Germany. The tablet maker downplayed a preliminary injunction against Galaxy smartphones in the Netherlands, calling those patents “futile, marginal and irrelevant” compared to the patents it charges Apple is violating.
Last week, Samsung also filed a patent infringement claim against Apple in France, expanding the two rival’s European legal tour. Meanwhile, Apple is also suing Samsung in Australia and Japan.
