Samsung Bites Back: Sues Apple Over iPhone 5

The Apple v Samsung case that was decided a few weeks ago is still far from being over, with injunctions and appeals still pending, but now we seem to be moving on to act 2 regardless of that bit of unfinished business.  Today it was learned that the tables have turned and Samsung is now suing Apple over the iPhone 5.  The Galaxy maker is claiming that Apple has infringed on eight of their patents and adds to previous claims that Samsung had already filed.

“We have little choice but to take the steps necessary to protect our innovations and intellectual property rights,” a Samsung company statement reads.  They claim the new iPhone 5 violates two of their standards-essential patents and six feature patents.  The case isn’t expected to go to trial until 2014.

It goes without saying that, while the Samsung-Apple battles have provided us with some humor, it really just spotlights the lousy condition of our patent laws.  Add that to the atrocious condition of our copyright laws and it’s really enough to make most people hang their heads in shame.  There is some great innovation going on out there, but it’s mostly being stifled by laws designed long before today’s technological world was shaped.