Apple has long been embroiled in a seemingly endless IP war, the basis of which is Apple’s accusation that Google’s Android phone software infringes several of its patents. Rather than going after Google directly, Apple has been focusing much of its energy on suing the smartphone makers, such as Samsung and HTC.
Apple’s latest suit is asking a California federal court to block the sale of the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone. The phone runs on the latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, and allegedly violates four of Apple’s patents, including a voice-command search function and the ability to unlock the phone by sliding an image, Thomson Reuters reports.
The Galaxy Nexus is the first phone to run Ice Cream Sandwich, but other smartphone makers such as HTC and Motorola will soon begin to adopt the platform.
This lawsuit represents a change in approach for Apple, which is already suing Samsung over claims that its Galaxy tablet infringes on design elements of the iPhone and iPad. That case is still ongoing. Apple is adding this latest case to a mess of more than 20 lawsuits in 10 countries, as they fight to hold onto the title of Smartphone King.
