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.
Ed Sutherland is a veteran technology journalist who first heard of Apple when they grew on trees, Yahoo was run out of a Stanford dorm and Google was an unknown upstart. Since then, Sutherland has covered the whole technology landscape, concentrating on tracking the trends and figuring out the finances of large (and small) technology companies.
18 responses to “If Samsung Has Its Way, Dutch iPhones And iPads Will Be WiFi Only”
Samsung is digging itself a grave.. not just by going after Apple, but this also would hurt the telecoms who sell 3G service.. they are throwing 1 rock at 2 BIG birds.
We already knew this Korean company was not capable of producing quality, innovative consumer products, just cheap, plastic knock-offs to make a quick buck. Now we also can see by all the countersuits, that at least some fear and desperation is setting in.
Boycott Samsung.
hdboy, I guess you have not used the Galaxy S2 and some great fones sammy produces. Yeah they are plasticky and cheap. But they have high quality hardware below that plastic…By the wat when did Apple become innovative :P lolzz
The S2 wouldn’t exists if the iPhone hadn’t changed the mobile world in 2007. So questioning Apple’s innovativeness is hinting that you may be a little mentally challenged.
Who is this “the telecoms”?
Wow!! Another fanboy comment!! You guys never get tired!!! :D
Maybe your correspondent could spell the Dutch seat of government correctly? The Hague.
Stop suing each other and let consumers buy what they want..
He’s saying that no one else is paying this fee to use 3G so if you sue Apple, you sue everyone that uses 3G including the telecoms(wireless providers). Which would most likely cause a ripple effect that may be downplayed in Apples favor in court….Samsung knows they copied Apple and this is the only thing that they can use which is used by anyone that has a fast data speed which means the courts may look at Samsung in a negative way….