Apple and Samsung may be fierce rivals in the smartphone market but behind the scenes the two companies are also doing battle thanks to a series of ongoing patent disputes. Both companies are set to release new premium phones this year in the shape of the iPhone 5S and the Samsung Galaxy S4 and time will tell which of these models gains the upper hand. In the courtrooms however Apple have gained an early advantage over Samsung thanks to the latest UK ruling.
We have seen countless patent disputes between Apple and Samsung over the past three years and the latest has taken place in the UK with the outcome going firmly in Apple’s favour. The case relates to three of Samsung’s 3G networking patents that the Korean company feel that Apple have infringed upon. The outcome of the case was that Samsung’s complaints were invalid and Apple will be delighted with the result. We have had no official comment from Apple as yet on this victory but Samsung have issued a statement to Reuters saying that they are “disappointed” with the result. In the statement they also commented “upon a thorough review of the judgement we will decide whether to file an appeal”.
In previous disputes between the two companies in the UK Samsung have had more success In 2012 we saw a case raised by Apple which involved Samsung copying the design of the iPad for their Galaxy Tab 10.1 device. This claim was dismissed by the courts with the judge Colin Birss ruling that the iPad was “cooler” than the rival Samsung tablet. In a subsequent blow for Apple they were also forced to issue a public apology to Samsung on their website and in UK newspaper publications for the claims. Rivalry between the two companies has never been more intense and over the coming months it is set to get worse with the iPhone 5S and the Samsung Galaxy S4 both set to hit shelves across the globe.
This is just the latest in the ongoing saga between Samsung and Apple, two leading phone manufacturers who are set to release the Galaxy S4 and the iPhone 5S over the coming months
