After Mocking Apple, Samsung Threatens Lawsuit Over iPhone 5

Samsung is certainly feeling spunky these days. After launching a pretty hilarious ad campaign poking fun at Apple users who wait in long lines to purchase every new iPhone iteration, the smartphone maker is again going on the offensive, but in a more serous manner. Reportedly, Samsung said it expects to sue Apple for alleged patent infringement over the iPhone 5, a device that launches to retail tomorrow.

"Based on information currently available, Samsung expects the iPhone 5 will infringe the asserted Samsung patents-in-suit in the same way as the other accused iPhone models," Samsung's legal team said in a court filing. Samsung will make the final decision "as soon as it has had a reasonable opportunity to analyze the device."


After adding the iPhone 5 to its case in the U.S., Samsung can then seek a ban on sales of the smartphone. It seems unlikely, but if Samsung was successful in getting the iPhone 5 banned in the U.S., it would be a huge blow to Apple. The iPhone 5 is in high demand, notching twice as many pre-orders in the first 24 hours as the iPhone 4S did when it debuted a year ago.

Just last month, Samsung lost a patent infringement case brought against it by Apple and was nailed for over a billion dollars in damages. Judge Lucy Koh often let her frustrations be known with both sides in what turned out to be a highly contentious trial. She's also presiding over Samsung's lawsuit against Apple.