Samsung fails in 3G patent action against Apple in Germany

Samsung has had a second patent infringement complaint against Apple turned down in the German courts, but the bitter disputes between the firms show no signs of abating.

The Mannheim Regional Court rejected Samsung's arguments that Apple was infringing a patent relating to the 3G/UMTS wireless telecommunications standard.

Patent analyst, Florian Mueller said that while this latest outcome was a setback for Samsung, the judgment was more promising the one that was delivered last week.

"For Samsung, this outcome must be disappointing. But the Korean electronics giant is known for its fighting spirit and unlikely to back down. It remains to be seen whether Samsung will appeal any of these rulings to the Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court," he said in a blog entry.

"Apple's and Samsung's claims against each other continue to have a very high drop-out rate in different jurisdictions. Since both companies are doing very well they can afford to keep going, and at this point neither litigant has the leverage to force its rival into a settlement."

Samsung has had little success German courts to date. The Korean firm has been accused by Apple of "slavishing copying" the design of the iPhone and iPad and was forced to redesign its Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 for the German market.

Samsung has countered the claims and has also been mounting its own proceedings, trying unsuccessfully to get iPhone 4S banned in France and Italy.

In positive news for Samsung, the firm posted $3.6bn in profit in its fourth quarter and managed to shift over 35 million smarpthones in this period.

Meanwhile Apple is now facing a new lawsuit from Motorola over patents in its iPhone 4S and iCloud services.