Apple adds six Samsung products including Note II, S III mini and Galaxy Ta

[(Spork)]

Both Apple and Samsung keep exercising their rights under the Northern District of California's permissive rules governing the timing of infringement contentions. After Samsung added the iPhone 5 and Apple brought claims against the Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy S III, as well as the Galaxy Nexus with the Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) update, Samsung filed infringement contentions against the iPad 4 and iPad mini as well as the latest iPod touch. At the time I already said that in terms of the number of products that a party can add to the lawsuit at an advanced stage, there is actually even more of an opportunity for Apple, given that Samsung has a far wider product range.

On Black Friday evening, Apple brought a motion seeking to add claim charts for six recently-released Samsung products:

• "the Samsung Galaxy S III running the new Android Jelly Bean operating system" (the S III was previously added as I mentioned above, and Jelly Bean was already at issue in Apple's previous motion to amend, but Apple says that the new Android version "did not arrive on many devices ? including those examined by Apple's counsel ? until earlier this month");
  
• the Samsung Galaxy Note II (first released on October 24, rolling out to additional carriers earlier this month); by the way, I just ordered one after having used the original Note for about a year;
  
• the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Wifi, which also isn't new per se, but the original infringement contentions were based on Honeycomb (Android 3.0) and on Thursday it received its update to Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0), which is why Apple wanted to update its charts as well;
  
• the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, "which was released with the Ice Cream Sandwich operating system with various carriers beginning November 9, 2012, and most recently on November 21, 2012";
  
• the Samsung Rugby Pro (released on October 21); and
  
• "the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini, which Samsung has yet to officially release in the United States, but which Apple discovered earlier this week is now offered for sale in the United States." (the UK release was on November 8)
  

Apple's motion highlights that all of these products (or product upgrades) were released after the fifth-generation iPod touch Samsung would like to include in this lawsuit, a fact that should make it difficult for the court to allow Samsung the addition of the fifth-generation iPod touch (apparently already released in early October) while denying Apple's latest proposed additions as untimely.

Since the court did not want Apple to bring sweeping infringement claims against the Android operating software without specifying some infringing Samsung devices, Apple's motion clarifies that "Apple does not seek to accuse the Jelly Bean or the Ice Cream Sandwich platforms operating on any Samsung device". But it's a fact that certain Samsung products have been updated with newer Android versions, and Samsung's own website, cited by Apple's motion, says that the company "is in close communication with both Google and [its] carrier partners to upgrade devices to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as quickly and as smoothly as possible". Also, Samsung's TouchWiz customizations are adapted for new Android versions.

As interesting as all of these additions are from today's vantage point, the case is scheduled to go to trial in March 2014, and none of these newly-included products or operating system versions will play a major commercial role at that point. But as I explained on other occasions, these additions provide a broader revenue base against which to seek damages, and while the scope of a future injunction would usually include products with an infringement pattern that is "no more than colorably different" than the specifically-named exemplary infringing products, it certainly would help Apple to start any future analysis of contempt of an injunction with the most recent version of the operating software that could still be included in the original infringement lawsuit.

http://www.fosspatents.com/2012/11/apple-adds-six-samsung-products.html

[techbeck]

Apple will keep on suing every new product Samsung has. This wont stop anytime soon if at all. This is going to end up hurting Apple more than anything else. Their innovation is non existent pretty much and they cannot compete or really wants to compete. And with WP8 picking up steam...slowly...and BB 10 coming out soon, Apple needs to get their heads out of their asses. More competition is coming and the way they are going, they are looking to get nailed hard...and yes, this is MO.

[Phouchg]

^ Nope. The big Foxconn rebrander could very well ask poor Chinese workers to take a sh*t inside each of iDevice boxes and people would still buy and praise them.

[Alladaskill17]

Apple will keep on suing every new product Samsung has. This wont stop anytime soon if at all. This is going to end up hurting Apple more than anything else. Their innovation is non existent pretty much and they cannot compete or really wants to compete. And with WP8 picking up steam...slowly...and BB 10 coming out soon, Apple needs to get their heads out of their asses. More competition is coming and the way they are going, they are looking to get nailed hard...and yes, this is MO.

But more competition motivates innovation and drives prices down! oh wait... its Apple.. :rolleyes:

[Growled Member]

They better leave the Note 2 alone. I'm getting one in February.

[Richteralan]

They better leave the Note 2 alone. I'm getting one in February.

Too late. Note 2 will be banned on December 21st, 2012.

edit: Glad I got a Nexus 4....*giggles like a 10yo boy*

[Growled Member]

Too late. Note 2 will be banned on December 21st, 2012.

:omg: :omg: :omg:

[techbeck]

:omg: :omg: :omg:

Dont worry, the Note II will still be available. Only the products included in the original lawsuit face bans in December. The Note II and other devices are what Apple is adding for round #2. Hopefully Samsung gets an appeal tho and Apple gets put in check. Tho, the way the American court system runs, I doubt it.

[Anibal P]

I find it interesting that they included the GS3, the phone was originally criticized because it was supposedly "designed by lawyers" and ugly as hell, and yet somehow a phone that has no resemblance at all to iCrap is being added to the suit, shows the desperation Apple is feeling

[+virtorio MVC]

What a bunch of bulls**t.

[caerma]

What a bunch of bulls**t.

[(Spork)]

I find it interesting that they included the GS3, the phone was originally criticized because it was supposedly "designed by lawyers" and ugly as hell, and yet somehow a phone that has no resemblance at all to iCrap is being added to the suit, shows the desperation Apple is feeling

i thought the very samething ... im kinda shocked the note 2 is on there since its basically a bigger sgs3

[Som]

Had a browse over at Macrumour for some reason and was surprised that most of the comments about this where negative towards apple... me thinks it might be the end for a apple unless they come up with something innovative and cool... but I doubt they will ha

[Royalty]

Doesn't look like Apple will ever learn their lesson. SMH