The legal saga between Apple and Samsung continues with a recent decision by the Mannheim Regional Court in Germany to dismiss three cases filed by Samsung against Apple over certain 3G technology patents. The same court has also dismissed one case filed by Apple against Samsung over the slide to unlock patent. Before you think that this is the end of the companies’ legal entanglements in Germany, think again, dozens of cases are still filed against each of the companies in the Mannheim court.
Samsung has already issued a statement that it plans to appeal the court’s decision regarding the dismissal of its patent claims versus Apple. But Samsung also praised the court’s decision to dismiss Apple’s claims to the slide to unlock patent. Apple has been tightlipped about the court’s decision.
The decision to dismiss the case is more of a stumbling block for Samsung. The company hasn’t been able to make any progress with any of the patent infringement lawsuits it has filed against Apple in different countries all over the world. Just last January, the same Mannheim court also dismissed two of Samsung’s claims and didn’t even give any reason for its dismissal. Samsung has continued to add on to the lawsuits it has filed against Apple — citing different patents from 3G technology to even emoticons. But the reality is that the chances of Samsung successfully pinning Apple with a lawsuit that would have a significant negative effect on the company won’t likely happen.
