Apple Suit Accuses Samsung of Patent, Trademark Infringement

Apple claimed in a suit that several Samsung mobile phones and tablets infringed on various Apple patents and trademarks. The suit, filed Friday in a U.S. District Court in San Francisco, claimed Samsung was also guilty of unfair competition and unjust enrichment, among other things.

Apple complained in the suit that, “instead of pursuing independent product development” for the recently introduced Galaxy mobile phones and tablets, Samsung “has chosen to slavishly copy Apple’s innovative technology, distinctive user interfaces … and distinctive product and packaging design, in violation of Apple’s valuable intellectual property rights.” Samsung made its Android-based devices “work and look like Apple’s products through widespread patent and trade dress infringement,” the suit claimed. Other infringing Samsung devices cited in the suit were the Captivate, Continuum, Vibrant, Epic 4G, Indulge, Mesmerize, Showcase, Fascinate, Nexus S, Gem, Transform, Intercept and Acclaim smartphones.

But Apple claimed “the copying” of Apple’s devices in the Galaxy devices was “so pervasive” that they “appear to be actual Apple products -- with the same rectangular shape with rounded corners, silver edging, a flat surface face with substantial top and bottom black borders, gently curving edges on the back, and a display of colorful square icons with rounded corners.” Apple included side-by-side comparisons of its products and icons with those from Samsung in the suit to back up its claims.

Apple requested preliminary and permanent injunctions to stop Samsung from continued infringement on Apple patents, as well as unspecified damages, payment of its legal fees, and a jury trial. Samsung didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Apple recently filed suits against companies including Amazon, while Microsoft has challenged Apple’s trademark for the term “app store.”