Samsung Already Planning to Target iPhone 5 with Patent Lawsuits

Apple has yet to announce the iPhone 5, but Samsung is apparently already making plans to target it with patent lawsuits as the intellectual property dispute between the two companies continues to escalate. Word of Samsung's plans comes from a "senior executive" at the company and was reported to The Korea Times.

"Just after the arrival of the iPhone 5 here, Samsung plans to take Apple to court here for its violation of Samsung's wireless technology related patents," said a senior executive from Samsung Electronics, asking not to be identified.

"For as long as Apple does not drop mobile telecommunications functions, it would be impossible for it to sell its i-branded products without using our patents. We will stick to a strong stance against Apple during the lingering legal fights."

Samsung is stepping up its attacks on Apple's products after courts in several countries have issued injunctions barring Samsung from selling its Galaxy Tab devices in those markets following complaints of intellectual property infringement from Apple.

samsung logo
Samsung is unable to make any preemptive strikes against the iPhone 5 because Apple has yet to reveal any details on the device, meaning that Samsung has no product against which to lodge infringement claims at this time. But Samsung is clearly preparing its case based on patents it owns related to basic wireless technology, which the iPhone 5 will no doubt be using. Once the device is introduced, Samsung will be free to make its infringement claims against Apple and the iPhone 5.

The report from The Korea Times also briefly cites unspecified "officials" who claim that the iPhone 5 will include near-field communication (NFC) technology. Reports thus far have been uncertain about whether such technology would appear in the iPhone 5 or be held for the iPhone 6, but general consensus has been leaning toward NFC not being included in the iPhone 5.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3

Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, ...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Apple Expected to Launch These 10+ Products Over the Coming Months

Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more. Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
iPhone 16e Bottom Crop

Apple Reportedly Unveiling a New iPhone Next Week

Tuesday February 10, 2026 1:51 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report said the iPhone 17e will be announced in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website, so do not expect an event for this device specifically. The iPhone 17e will be a spec-bumped successor to the iPhone 16e. Rumors claim the device will have four key...
Apple Logo Black

Apple Acquires New Database App

Wednesday February 11, 2026 6:44 am PST by
Apple acquired Canadian graph database company Kuzu last year, it has emerged. The acquisition, spotted by AppleInsider, was completed in October 2025 for an undisclosed sum. The company's website was subsequently taken down and its Github repository was archived, as is commonplace for Apple acquisitions. Kuzu was "an embedded graph database built for query speed, scalability, and easy of ...

Top Rated Comments

188 months ago
There needs to be a patent section. That would take care of most of the stories nobody wants to read.
Score: 51 Votes (Like | Disagree)
188 months ago
Not good

This will not end well for anyone - not for Apple, Samsung, not even for consumers. Well, ok - lawyers will do just fine!
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
188 months ago
Ok. The phone has not even been announced and they are already planning to sue Apple for a device that they don't even have any details.

Samsung is such a troll.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
188 months ago
"For as long as Apple does not drop mobile telecommunications functions, it would be impossible for it to sell its i-branded products without using our patents. We will stick to a strong stance against Apple during the lingering legal fights."

lol Samsung those are called standard essential patent, you are required to offer a fair licensing term ....
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
188 months ago
Samsung's lawyers need to be given the death penalty - in every country that they exist.

And i guess Apples lawyers deserve the same then?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacinDoc Avatar
188 months ago
lol Samsung those are called standard essential patent, you are required to offer a fair licensing term ....
As you say, Samsung can't refuse to offer Apple fair licensing terms for essential communications technology, other legal actions between the companies notwithstanding. Otherwise, no company other than Samsung could make mobile phones, and given the patent portfolios owned by other companies, even they couldn't make then due to the IP that Samsung has to license under fair licensing terms.

I quite dislike this whole line of thinking, though, to announce that you are going to sue someone for patent infringement on a product before you even know what they are making. Now we know why Samsung demanded to see prototypes of the iPhone 5 "and any future products".
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)