Samsung Countersues Apple in Australia, Appeals Galaxy Ban in Germany

Samsung on Friday filed a countersuit against Apple in Australia, where the sales of Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet may be banned later this month.

The move taken by Samsung marks the latest in the two companies' patent war all over the world. At least 20 lawsuits have been filed between Apple and Samsung around the world including South Korea, France, Japan and the U.S.

In Australia, Samsung claimed that Apple's iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPad 2 violate seven patents related to wireless communications standards, reported Bloomberg.

Friday also marked Samsung's appeal against a recent ruling of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 banned in Germany.

The latest move of the Korean electronic giant in Australia follows the familiar pattern of Samsung filing technology patent suit in response to Apple's claim of Samsung blatantly copying the design of the iPhone and the iPad.

Apple filed a lawsuit in Sydney court earlier this year, claiming that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 infringes patents regarding the iPad.

Samsung's counteraction indicates that the company has become serious about Apple's blockade in Australia and Europe.

To defend our intellectual property, Samsung filed a cross claim for Apple's violation of Samsung's wireless technology patents, said Samsung Electronics spokesman Nam Ki-yung.

Samsung has a proud history of innovation in the mobile industry, said Samsung after filing the Australian suit. It has invested continuously in R&D, design and technology to produce our innovative and cutting-edge mobile devices.

On Apple's end, of course, Samsung is the villain.

It's no coincidence that Samsung's latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging, said Apple Australia.

This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple's intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.