US: Quarreling rivals Apple, Samsung face new patent lawsuit

Tech rivals Apple and Samsung are continuing their feud over alleged patent infringement, with the latest development seeing Apple appeal an earlier ruling that denied the iPhone maker’s request for Samsung smartphone sale bans.

Reports say Apple has filed an appeal of US District Judge Lucy Koh’s decision, made for a second time earlier this month, to reject Apple’s request to ban sales of more than 20 Samsung smartphones – none of which are still on the market – for allegations Samsung infringed on Apple patents. Apple has now asked the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington to review the case, say reports.

The appeal is just next chapter in the saga of intellectual property disputes between the companies. Another trial is set to begin next month regarding newer smartphone devices, say reports.

Experts say Judge Koh’s ruling may also boost Samsung’s chances of eventually settling the matter.

Samsung launched its own attack against Apple for patent infringement, winning an import ban on some Apple products found to have violated Samsung patents, a decision that was eventually overturned.

Reports say the companies have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on legal attacks against each other for alleged patent infringement since 2011.

Both rivals face new lawsuit

The news of Apple’s appeal follows reports say tech firm ZiiLabs has sued both Samsung and Apple of patent infringement.

ZiiLabs, which is owned by Creative Technology, reportedly filed the suit in Texas against the companies for violating smartphone, tablet and laptop patents.

Reports say Samsung Galaxy phones, tablets and laptops, in addition to Apple iPhones, iPads and computers, infringed on 10 ZiiLab patents regarding video streaming and other technologies.

Full Content: Bloomberg and Reuters

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