<div><div style="float:right;margin-bottom:10px;"><a  href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?text=sdasdasd&url=http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/"><img style="border:none;margin-right:5px;" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/themes/v7/img/share-buttons/stumbleupon.png" align="right" /></a>
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<a  href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/&service=bit.ly&source=mashable"><img style="border:none;margin-right:5px;" width="51" height="61" src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/" align="right"/></a></div><div style="float:left;margin-bottom:10px;"><img src="http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/samsung-apple.jpg" alt="" title="samsung-apple" class="alignright size-full wp-image-703085" height="" width="275"></div><div style="clear:both;"></div></div><br/>After patent infringement lawsuits in <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/08/29/samsung-galaxy-tab-delayed/">Australia</a>, <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/06/24/apple-samsung-lawsuit-south-korea/">South Korea</a> and <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/08/09/samsung-galaxy-tab-europe/">Germany</a>, Apple has now sued Samsung in Japan on similar grounds. It accuses Samsung of violating Apple's <a href=http://mashable.com/category/iphone/%E2%80%9D>iPhone</a> and <a href=http://mashable.com/follow/topics/ipad%22>iPad</a>-related patents with its Samsung Galaxy series of smartphones and tablets. 

Apple is seeking the suspension of sales of Galaxy S and Galaxy S II smartphones as well as Samsung's tablet, the <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/01/samsung-galaxy-tab-7-7/">Galaxy Tab 7</a>, in Japan. Based on its success in <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/08/09/samsung-galaxy-tab-europe/">Europe and Australia</a>, Apple is hopeful the judge will once again side with Apple. 

In addition to the sales ban, Apple is also seeking 100 million yen ($1.3 million) in damages. According to Kyodo news agency, the first hearing was on Wednesday, but a spokesperson for the Tokyo District Court declined to comment on the case.

<center><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/01/patent-wars-infographi/">Patent Wars: A New Age of Competition [INFOGRAPHIC]</a></strong></center>

Also, check out our gallery comparing the two companies’ products below. 

      <br/>
      <h4>The Original iPhone</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17161The-Original-iPhone"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="The Original iPhone" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/iphone1.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>Apple released the first iPhone in June 2007.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>Samsung BlackJack 2 </h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17201Samsung-BlackJack-2"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="Samsung BlackJack 2 " src="http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/blackjack-2-att.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>This is the smartphone Samsung was selling in 2007, the BlackJack 2.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>Samsung Galaxy S</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17177Samsung-Galaxy-S"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="Samsung Galaxy S" src="http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/i9000.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>This is the Samsung Galaxy S, which debuted in 2010.</p>
</p>      <br/>
      <h4>The iPhone 3G</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17159The-iPhone-3G"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="The iPhone 3G" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/iphone-3g.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>Released in 2008, the iPhone 3G differed only slightly from its predecessor but had a slightly different back/side-housing.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>Samsung Showcase i500</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17183Samsung-Showcase-i500"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="Samsung Showcase i500" src="http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/showcase-i500.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>The Samsung Showcase i500 was released in 2011 and shares similarities with the form factor and aesthetic of the iPhone 3G.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>The iPhone 3GS</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17163The-iPhone-3GS"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="The iPhone 3GS" src="http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/iphone3gs-front-back.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>Released in 2009, the iPhone 3GS looks identical to the iPhone 3G, but was significantly faster under the hood.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>Verizon Droid Charge</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17169Verizon-Droid-Charge"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="Verizon Droid Charge" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/droid-charge.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>Apple amended its lawsuit against Samsung to include the recently released Droid Charge in the list of infringing devices.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>Sprint Epic 4G</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17171Sprint-Epic-4G"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="Sprint Epic 4G" src="http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/epic-4g.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>Sprint's version of the Galaxy S was the only version to include a slide-out keyboard. Nevertheless, Apple still included the Epic 4G in its list of infringing devices.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>The Nexus S 4G</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17179The-Nexus-S-4G"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="The Nexus S 4G" src="http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/nexus.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>Google's Nexus S and Nexus S 4G devices have a curved glass screen but also share a similar shape and icon layout as the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS series.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>Galaxy S Captivate</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17187Galaxy-S-Captivate"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="Galaxy S Captivate" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/captivate.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>The application bar in the TouchWiz interface in the Galaxy S Captivate from AT&T resembles Apple's iOS.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>Galaxy S 4G</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17173Galaxy-S-4G"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="Galaxy S 4G" src="http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/galaxy-s-4g.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>T-Mobile's Galaxy S 4G shares similarities with earlier iPhone devices.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>Galaxy S Vibrant</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17185Galaxy-S-Vibrant"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="Galaxy S Vibrant" src="http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/vibrant.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>T-Mobile's first Galaxy S device, the Vibrant, also shares a similar body style as the iPhone 3GS.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>iPhone 4</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17165iPhone-4"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="iPhone 4" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/iphone4_2.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>Apple released the iPhone 4 in June 2010.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>Galaxy S II</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17181Galaxy-S-II"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="Galaxy S II" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/samsung-galaxy-s-ii.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>The well-reviewed Galaxy S II is starting to hit stores in Europe and Asia.</p> </p>      <br/>
      <h4>AT&T Infuse 4G</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17205ATT-Infuse-4G"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="AT&amp;T Infuse 4G" src="http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/infuse-4g.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>AT&T's Infuse 4G looks similar to the body style and button layout as the iPhone 4.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>The iPad</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17153The-iPad"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="The iPad" src="http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/apple-ipad1.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>The iPad was first released in March 2010 and managed to reboot the entire tablet PC market.</p>

<p>The design, which many criticized as simply being an oversized iPod touch, was unlike any other tablet computer on the market.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>Galaxy Tab 4G</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17167Galaxy-Tab-4G"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="Galaxy Tab 4G" src="http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/4g-lte-galaxy-tab.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>Samsung's Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab 4G was originally released in a 7" form factor.</p>

<p>Slower than expected sales convinced Samsung to reconsider its size strategy.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>iPad 2</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17157iPad-2"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="iPad 2" src="http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/ipad2.png" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>The iPad 2 was released in March 2011 and has managed to sell out in every market.</p>

<p>Thinner than its predecessor, while still retaining the same beautiful screen, the devices is dominating the tablet market.</p></p>      <br/>
      <h4>Galaxy Tab 10.1</h4>
      <br/>
              <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/#17175Galaxy-Tab-101"><img width="400" style="border:none;" title="Galaxy Tab 10.1" src="http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/applesamsung-lawsuit-products/galaxy-tab-10-1.jpg" /></a><br/><br/>
      <p><p>Samsung went back to the drawing board and re-designed the Galaxy Tab 10.1 after showing it off at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2011.</p>

<p>The final version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is thin -- Samsung claims it's thinner than the iPad 2.</p></p>

[via <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/08/us-apple-samsung-idUSTRE7871HH20110908?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&dlvrit=56505" >Reuters</a>]<p style="margin-top:10px;"><i>For more <a href="http://mashable.com/business/">Business</a> coverage:</i><ul style="margin-top:0;" class="xoxo"><li><a href="http://twitter.com/mashbusiness"  rel="nofollow">Follow Mashable Business on Twitter</a></li><li><a href="http://www.facebook.com/mashable.business"  rel="nofollow">Become a Fan on Facebook</a></li><li><a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/mashable/business"  rel="nofollow">Subscribe to the Business channel</a></li><li>Download our free apps for <a href="http://mashable.com/2010/08/02/mashable-android-app/" rel="nofollow">Android</a>, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mashable-for-mac/id412390413?mt=12" rel="nofollow">Mac</a>, <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mashable/id356202138?mt=8"  rel="nofollow">iPhone</a> and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mashable-for-ipad/id370097986?mt=8"  rel="nofollow">iPad</a></li></ul></p>
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