Samsung Electronics Co. has intensified its legal dispute with Apple Inc. over phone patents, by filing a complaint to the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) to block iPhone, iPad and iPod U.S. imports.
Samsung’s complaint, number 337-2824, focuses on “mobile electronic devices, including wireless communication devices, portable music and data processing devices, and tablet computer.” According to Foss Patents, who first found the complaint, the move could mean that Samsung is asking for a ban of U.S. imports of Apple’s iPhone, iPod, and iPad devices, should the ITC agree on investigating the company’s complaint. If the ITC investigates Samsung’s complaint, it could take 16 to 18 months for them to finish their investigation.
According to Florian Mueller of Foss Patents, Apple is more likely to respond with a complaint of their own. Mueller said that Apple has to, “because otherwise Samsung might obtain an import ban against Apple long before Apple wins an injunction against Samsung.”
In the past, Nokia has filed a number of complaints to the ITC against Apple Inc., and the Cupertino company is still waiting for a resolution on a complaint filed by Kodak.
Earlier this month, Apple has expanded its compaint against Samsung, saying that more of the latter’s devices are copying their products.
“[Samsung’s] products…blatantly imitate the appearance of Apple’s products to capitalize on Apple’s success,” Apple said in its complaint. “The copying has been widely observed in the industry and has been mentioned in multiple articles reviewing Samsung products.”
Is it time for Apple and Samsung to settle their legal disputes?
