Samsung counter sues Apple in Australia

KOREAN HARDWARE GIANT Samsung has filed a counter suit that accuses rival tablet maker Apple of wireless patent infringement.

The complaint has been filed in an Australian court and relates to the fruit themed firm's Iphone and Ipad devices. Samsung filed the lawsuit on 16 September with the Federal Court of Australia, New South Wales Registry, according to Reuters.

Samsung said it "has a proud history of innovation in the mobile industry. It has invested continuously in R&D (research and development), design and technology to produce our innovative and cutting-edge mobile devices. To defend our intellectual property, Samsung filed a cross claim for Apple's violation of its wireless technology patents."

Samsung alleged that Apple infringed seven patents in its Iphone 3G, Iphone 3GS, Iphone 4 and Ipad 2. Furthermore, the complaint stated that Apple's allegations against Samsung are invalid.

Samsung has delayed the launch of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet by a month because of a global patent disagreement with Apple.

The two gadget makers have sued and countersued each other countless times in countries around the globe, most recently in the UK, France and Japan.

Apple got one up on Samsung in Germany by having an injunction upheld against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, preventing Samsung from importing the tablet, but apparently not preventing it from being sold there, seemingly depending upon which week it is and how the courts' decisions are being interpreted. µ