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<a  href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http://mashable.com/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/&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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/" align="right"/></a></div><div style="float:left;margin-bottom:10px;"><img alt="" src="http://9.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/GALAXY_Tab_top3601.jpg" class="alignright" height="" width="225"></div><div style="clear:both;"></div></div><br/>The Samsung-Apple patent war is far from over. After <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/08/29/samsung-galaxy-tab-delayed/">numerous</a> <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/09/08/apple-samsung-patent-war-japan/">patent</a> <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/08/24/samsung-galaxy-phones-netherlands-ban/">lawsuits</a> from Apple, Samsung has responded with <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/04/22/samsung-countersues-apple/">another</a> lawsuit of its own -- this time in France. 

The Korean manufacturer claims that Apple has infringed on three of its technology patents regarding UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and "not on the design of the tablets." In contrast, Apple's lawsuits claim that Samsung has copied the look and feel of <a href=http://mashable.com/category/iphone/%E2%80%9D>iPhone</a> and <a href="http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/mashable/apple/~3/9_OYG2LuvvU/mashable.com/follow/topics/ipad">iPad</a> with its Galaxy and <a href="http://mashable.com/follow/topics/galaxy-tab/">Galaxy Tab devices</a>. 

The complaint was originally filed in Paris in July, and the first hearing is expected in December.

The two companies have been playing the patent lawsuit game for a while, with Apple having a lot of success banning certain variants of Samsung's Galaxy Tab in several countries around the world, including <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/08/01/apple-samsung-australia/">Australia</a> and many <a href="http://mashable.com/2011/08/09/samsung-galaxy-tab-europe/">European countries</a>. 

With Samsung filing a host of countersuits, it's reasonable to expect a settlement between the two companies, with Samsung probably getting a slightly shorter end of the stick. Unfortunately, the only visible result for consumers thus far is less choice when shopping for a tablet or a smartphone. 

<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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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/2011/09/13/samsung-sues-apple-france/#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>]

[via <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gwj6bp3gxgP0et_Qf18LCFQv9Lew?docId=CNG.7e20dfeccc40438d4e4f3604cb819e0c.3c1" ><em>AFP</em></a>]
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