Apple claims that Samsung"s Galaxy S III smartphone infringes on two patents related to software features. On Tuesday, Apple requested permission to file a motion for preliminary injunction against Samsung"s upcoming product, as discovered by FOSS Patents.
The injunction against the Galaxy S III would be in addition to a previous motion for a preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Nexus.
"Because the Galaxy S III contains two of the exact infringing features already at issue with respect to the Galaxy Nexus, the S III is not more than colorably different from the Galaxy Nexus," Apple"s motion reads. One of the patents in question is related to unified search (U.S. Patent No. 8,086,604), famously exemplified with Siri, which Apple claims the Galaxy S III"s "S Voice" feature infringes on. The other patent is related to "data detectors" (U.S. Patent No. 5,946,647).
Apple purchased the Samsung Galaxy S III in the U.K., where it was released on May 29. The U.S. release of the phone is scheduled for June 21, which the FOSS Patents blog points out is exactly two weeks after the preliminary injunction hearing.
The motion will likely be discussed at Thursday"s hearing.
In a statement emailed to CNET, an Apple spokesperson wrote, "It"s no coincidence that Samsung"s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging, This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple"s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas."
Source: FOSS Patents