It's pretty clear that Samsung and Apple are not backing down on either of their patent complaints. As the weeks go by, both companies continue to file new lawsuits in different countries, hoping to get the others' products pulled from the market.
The patent dispute between Apple and Samsung began in April, when Apple sued Samsung for copying the look and feel of its iPhone and iPad in its flagship Galaxy S line of devices; a suit that was later expanded to include 13 more products, including the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Nexus S 4G, and the Droid Charge.
Samsung responded with a countersuit that targeted Apple for infringing on five patents relating to wireless networking technology, though it later dropped a countersuit filed in a U.S. federal court to streamline its proceedings.
With all these lawsuits, not to mention Apple's other battles with Samsung rivals like HTC and Motorola, it can be difficult to keep track of what's going on. France is just the latest country where Samsung and Apple will face off in a court room, but where else are they fighting, and where have Samsung products been banned or delayed? According to an August 20 post from patent blogger Florian Mueller, there are 19 ongoing lawsuits in 12 courts in nine countries on four continents. If things keep going as they are, that list is sure to expand, but here's a look at some of those cases.
Where Are Samsung Products Banned?
GERMANY: In August, a Dusseldorf court blocked the sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Europe, with the exception of the Netherlands. Amidst questions over whether a German court had the right to ban a Korean company from selling its wares outside Germany, the court later tightened its ruling and only applied the ban to sales within Germany. The court upheld that ban in early September. Samsung has appealed the ruling, according to Bloomberg.
AUSTRALIA: In late August, Samsung said it volunteered not to sell the Galaxy Tab 10.1 any earlier than September 30, even though it was scheduled to launch on September 12. That came several weeks after Apple convinced a judge to delay Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 launch, claiming the tablet infringed on various elements of the Apple iPad 2. At the time, Samsung's Australian counsel said Apple was basing its claims on the U.S. model, and Samsung agreed to hand to Apple several models of the Australian prototype, which it did last Thursday.
NETHERLANDS: In August, the Rechtbank's-Gravenhage, a Dutch court in The Hague, imposed a ban on the Galaxy smartphones but not the tablets, at the request of Apple. The ban will take effect in mid-October.
Where Else Have Lawsuits Been Filed?
FRANCE: Samsung filed a complaint against Apple in a Paris district court on Monday, accusing Cupertino of violating three of its mobile phone-related patents. The two sides are expected to face off at a December hearing.
JAPAN: In early September, Apple filed suit against Samsung in Tokyo District Court, asking for a ban on Samsung Galaxy S smartphones and Galaxy Tab tablets. At this point, a hearing on the matter has been conducted.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION: In late June, Samsung took the fight to the ITC and Apple followed suit several days later. The ITC later agreed to examine Samsung's complaint, as well as the one filed by Apple.
UNITED STATES: In addition to the ITC, there is also cases pending in California and Delaware district courts.
UNITED KINGDOM: Samsung sued Apple in the U.K. in June, according to Bloomberg.
ITALY: The case is pending before the Tribunale di Milano (Milan first-instance court), Mueller said.
SOUTH KOREA: The suit filed in Seoul Central District Court was part of Samsung's countersuit.
For more, see PCMag's review of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi as well the Samsung Galaxy S II and the slideshow below.