Apple Wants Six New Devices Added To Samsung Patent Lawsuit

Samsung Galaxy Note II 2

Six new Samsung tablets and smartphones could be added to patent showdown

The seemingly never ending Apple Samsung patent saga shows no signs of slowing down after Apple asked a Federal Court to add six new products to its patent infringement lawsuit.

Apple filed the lawsuit in February, alleging that various Samsung tablets and smartphones infringed seven of its patents, causing Samsung to file a complaint that the iPad and iPhone violated eight of its own patents.

The Samsung Galaxy Note II, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Wi-Fi, Samsung Galaxy Tab II 10.1, Samsung Rugby Pro and Samsung Galaxy S III Mini are the devices that Apple wants added to the trial, which is not due to begin until March 2014.

Apple Samsung patent saga continues

Earlier this month a court allowed Samsung to add the iPhone 5 to its complaint, while it has also requested that the iPad Mini, iPad 4 and fifth-generation iPod Touch be included. Samsung said it believes the recently announced iDevices infringe the same patents that it alleges other Apple products violate, but they were not yet available when Samsung brought its previous motion.

Apple had been warned not to waste time by opposing the inclusion of additional products and it appears likely that its tablets will be added to Samsung’s lawsuit. However it has been suggested that the court’s permissive attitude might favour Apple as Samsung has more products to be targeted.

The upcoming trial is the second major Apple Samsung patent showdown, the first of which ended with a US court ordering Samsung to pay Apple more than £600 million in damages. However, the Korean manufacturer is trying to overturn the verdict by arguing that Velvin Hogan, the jury foreman, failed to disclose litigation in which he was involved that could have indicated bias against Samsung.  A decision on whether a retrial be will granted will be made next month.

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