Apple files new Samsung patent action in US

In these file photos, an Apple logo (top) is seen at the entrance of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 6, 2012 in San Francisco and attendees visit the Samsung booth (bottom) at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, January 7, 2010 in Las Vegas. Apple filed on August 31, 2012 a fresh patent infringement action in the United States against Samsung, alleging that the South Korean company is continuing to steal its technology despite a recent court ruling. AFP PHTO/FILES/(top) KIMIHIRO HOSHINO/(bottom) ROBYN BECK

NEW YORK – Apple has filed a fresh patent infringement action in the United States against Samsung, alleging that the South Korean company is continuing to steal its technology despite a recent court ruling.

The new claim was filed in San Jose, California on Friday and it says that Samsung, which last month was fined $1.05 billion by an American court for “willfully” infringing Apple’s patents, is still using its rival’s technology.

“Despite that lawsuit, Samsung has continued to flood the market with copycat products,” Apple said, adding four of Samsung’s most recent releases – including the flagship Galaxy S III smartphone – to an earlier complaint filed in February.

“Apple will suffer and is suffering irreparable harm” because of the alleged infringement, said the maker of the iPhone and iPad.

The new US claim is the latest chapter in a long-running global patent war between the smartphone giants, which have accused each other of stealing intellectual property for their own products.

Apple won $1.05 billion on August 24, when a California jury found the South Korean electronics giant infringed dozens of patents held by Apple.

However, a Japanese court on Friday rejected the US tech giant’s claim that Samsung stole its technology.

Apple had sought damages and sought to block sales of some Samsung products in Japan, where both firms have seen their popularity rise in a market traditionally dominated by domestic powerhouses such as Sharp and Sony.

But the claim was rejected and Tokyo District Court’s three-judge panel also awarded legal costs to Samsung.