It looks like Samsung is fostering a bit of a grudge after Apple filed a lawsuit against them. Samsung is now fighting back, filing a plea with the International Trade Commission (ITC) to ban the import of Apple's iPad, iPhone, and iPod devices.
The original lawsuit that started this mess was filed by Apple in April of this year. It claimed that Samsung had copied the design of the iPad and iPhone in making their Galaxy branded phones and tablets. To say that suit put strain on the business relationship between Apple and Samsung would be a grand understatement. The gloves have now apparently come off, with Samsung filing a complaint with the ITC this week.
The complaint (number 337-2824 if you're keeping track) concerns "Mobile Electronic Devices, Including Wireless Communication Devices, Portable Music and Data Processing Devices, and Tablet Computer," and "The proposed respondent is Apple Inc., Cupertino, California." The complaint asks for an import ban on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod. If the ITC agrees to investigate the Samsung complaint (which seem likely) it will be 16-18 months before a decision is rendered.
Samsung isn't just pitching a fit to the ITC though. The company has filed a lawsuit in Delaware and apparently also in the UK and Italy. All of those suits reportedly address the same 5 patents noted in the ITC complaint. Both DocketNavigator and Bloomberg are reporting on the Delaware lawsuit, with the complaint itself being posted by DocketNavigator. Apparently these types of lawsuits are not uncommon. Often referred to as "companion lawsuits" because while the ITC could rule for an import ban, they cannot assign monetary damages along with their ruling.
The entire mess will very likely involve some kind of settlement, if the ITC finds in favor of Samsung. The other likely outcome is that Samsung will be dropped by Apple as a component supplier for any of their devices. This is rumored to already be happening but as of yet is unconfirmed. That result wouldn't be surprising considering the bad blood that is rapidly developing between the two companies.
