Apple starts legal battle with Samsung over patents

Apple and Samsung Electronics, two of the world’s leading smartphone giants, are poised to fight over patent rights.

Apple says the Korean company`s Galaxy line of smartphones and tablet computers copied the Apple iPhone and iPad. The lawsuit filed with a court in Northern California Friday marked the first legal battle between the two companies.

According to the lawsuit, Apple brought 16 patent infringement claims against Samsung, including 10 patents (including utility and design patents), three trade dress (physical aspects such as shape and color) and two trademark infringement claims.

Apple alleged that Samsung violated intellectual property rights in 10 smart devices, including the Galaxy S smartphone and the Android-powered Nexus S.

Since 2009, Apple has fought patent battles with Nokia of Finland, Motorola of the U.S., and HTC of Taiwan. Unlike most instance of phone litigation, Apple`s new case stresses trade dress, an emerging sector in intellectual property.

In the U.S., protection of trade dress, a law yet to be firmly established in Korea, has been reinforced since the latter half of the 1980s.

“Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smartphone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple`s technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products," Apple`s complaint said.

Apple also claimed that certain Samsung products, notably the Galaxy S, are quite Apple-like in form.

In response, Samsung said, “We did not infringe on Apple’s patents. We think Apple has violated our patents in communications standards. We are considering a counterclaim.”

kimsunmi@donga.com