Apple has issued legal proceedings in California against one of its component suppliers, Samsung. The court filing on April 15 alleges that several of the company’s Android phones and tablets, including the Nexus S, Epic 4G, Galaxy S 4G, and the Galaxy Tab, infringe on Apple’s intellectual property.
‘Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple’s technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products,’ says the 38-page filing, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The filing also contains side-by-side comparisons of Apple’s iPhone 3GS and Samsung’s Galaxy S i9000, which was released nine months later. Also included are images which illustrate, according to Apple, similarities between packaging and icons for apps.
‘This kind of blatant copying is wrong,’ said Apple spokesperson, Kristin Huguet in a statement.
Samsung countered Apple’s legal action by announcing that intended filing a lawsuit of its own against the Cupertino company, for infringing patents.
‘Samsung will respond actively to this legal action taken against us through appropriate legal measures to protect our intellectual property,’ said the company in a statement.
The legal dispute carries additional risks for both companies because Samsung is believed to be one of Apple’s biggest component suppliers, and Apple, one of Samsung’s biggest customers.
