Apple sues Samsung for 'copying' the iPhone and iPad

Apple has filed a lawsuit against Samsung for "slavishly" copying iPhone and iPad designs in the Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets. It was reported that the lawsuit was filed in US District Court in North Carolina for infringing number of Apple patents and trademarks. An Apple representative told Mobilized, "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. This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple's intellectual property when companies steal our ideas."

Apple has filed a lengthy lawsuit that contains loads of images of how Samsung has copied Apple at several levels- from core technology to screen icons on hardware shape. Apple blames Samsung of copying even its packaging.

Now this is indeed weird as Samsung has been supplying Apple with microchips for the Apple products. However, in the last two years, Apple has been working on its own version of processor for iOS products.

The claim for intellectual property infringement is phrased by Apple as follows:

"Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple's technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products."

Samsung replied in a statement:
Samsung's development of core technologies and strengthening our intellectual property portfolio are keys to our continued success. Samsung will respond actively to this legal action taken against us through appropriate legal measures to protect our intellectual property.

It's not the first time Apple has sued a smartphone maker for infringing Apple patents and trademarks. In the past too, Apple has filed lawsuits against HTC, Nokia and Motorola for infringing its patents related to smartphone hardware, software and design.

Looking at Samsung's reply, the company will indeed counter sue Apple. But this might give a picture that Apple is getting worried with increasing popularity of Android based smartphones.