This is the second installment of the Apple vs. Samsung Lawsuit & Patent Infringement Trials, a continuation of the first installment can be read here.
The patent trial of the 21st century is not exclusive to the US, but it has been occurring in several countries across Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
At the same time Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronic Company battled in a Californian courtroom, similar trials were taking place in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
Australia
In 2011, Apple filed an injunction to ban the sale of the Galaxy 10.1 Tab, which has been accused of copying Apple's iPad 2 tablet.
While a case on the Galaxy 10.1 tab takes place, hearings were on about Samsung's claims that Apple's iPhone 4S infringed on Samsung's patents.
Ultimately, Samsung won the first round and the tab ban was denied, but the main patent trial went on as usual in July 2012.
France and Italy
In October 2011, Samsung filed an injunction in Paris, France and Milan, Italy to block the sale of the iPhone 4S.
According to a post by the South Korean company, the preliminary injunction requests in France and Italy involve two patent infringements regarding to wireless telecommunications technology, namely the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) standards for 3G mobile handsets.
"The infringed technology is essential to the reliable functioning of telecom networks and devices and Samsung believes that Apple's violation as being too severe and that the iPhone 4S should be barred from sales," stated Samsung. "Apple has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property rights and free ride on our technology. We believe it is now necessary to take legal action to protect our innovation."
According to Foss Patents, if the patents in question are indeed "essential", as Samsung noted in their post, then Samsung might have a legitimate case against Apple due to the fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.
Germany:
Similar to Australia, Apple filed an injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1.
The result was the ban of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the country, and this could be dangerous since the patent Apple alleges is registered with the European Union (EU), and as such, a similar ban can be ordered for all countries under the EU. According to PC Mag, the full European ban has passed except for the Netherlands, which was dealing with its own Apple vs. Samsung patent infringement case. However, the German courts later lightened up on the ban, restricting the Galaxy Tab 10.1 ban to only Germany.
Samsung has since made an appeal.
Japan:
Apple filed a suit in Tokyo asking to ban the sales of the Galaxy S and S2 smartphones and Galaxy Tab 7 in Japan.
Apple's move comes as Samsung filed a suit against them in April 2011, which Apple then countersued in Aug. 23. Apple seeks 100 million yen, or $1.3 million in US dollars on top of the sales ban.
The Tokyo courts ruled Samsung did not infringe on Apple's patents and dismissed the lawsuit.
"We welcome the court's decision, which confirmed our long-held position that our products do not infringe Apple's intellectual property. We will continue to offer highly innovative products to consumers, and continue our contributions towards the mobile industry's development," said Samsung in a statement.
Apple did not issue a comment.
According to Reuters, the Galaxy S outsold the iPhone in Japan that year.
Netherlands:
Apple scored a victory in Dutch courts in 2012. As Latinos Post previously reported, the courts in the Netherlands banned Samsung devices utilizing the Android 2.2.1 to 3.0 operating system. The move comes after a previous ban o the Galaxy S, S2, and Ace smartphones in 2011.
In addition to the ban, the Dutch courts have ordered Samsung to reveal how much profit they have made from the infringed products as of June 27, 2011.
A different court date will determine if Samsung has to pay Apple any fees, similar to the US verdict back in August. However, IDG News Service noted Samsung will have to pay up to $129,000 for every day it has violated the ban, based on court rulings.
South Korea:
It is the home base of Samsung yet it didn't mean they were considered favorites in the courtroom.
Samsung and Apple both went to court after Samsung accused Apple of infringing three patents for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2.
The South Korean courts agreed that two of Samsung's patents were violated while Samsung infringed on one of Apple's utility patents.
In the verdict, the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad 1, and iPad 2 were the Apple devices banned in the country. For Samsung, the Galaxy S, Galaxy S2, Galaxy Tab, and Galaxy Tab 10.1 were banned.
United Kingdom:
Samsung filed suit against Apple.
Samsung claimed Apple infringed smartphone patents on how the devices send and receive messages on 3G networks. Apple stated the claim is not valid as Samsung must license the technology under the FRAND terms.
"We have at all times met our obligations to the fair and reasonable licensing of our standards patents," Samsung said in a statement, according to Bloomberg. "However, Apple has refused to negotiate in good faith, and continues to use our patented technologies without any license. We will continue to take all appropriate measures to put an end to Apple's free-riding."
The trial is set ongoing.
The third installment of the Apple vs. Samsung Patent Infringement Trials continues with "Apple vs. Samsung Lawsuit & Patent Infringement Trials - Part 3: Impact with Other Tech Giants, from HTC, Motorola, and Ericsson," click here to view. Thursday will present what has happened in the US trial since the Aug. 24 verdict. The final installment on Friday will be experts' thoughts on the trial and the future of Apple, Samsung, and patent infringement trials.