Apple files patent suit against Samsung in S.Korea

Global technology companies are locked in a web of litigation as they try to defend their shares of the booming tablet and smartphone market.

Last week,a lawyer for Apple said in a U.S. court that executives at the highest levels of both companies are in talks about patent litigation.

This was after the judge referenced the close business relationship between the two companies to resolve the case through alternative dispute resolution outside the court.

Apple,which was Samsung8217;s second-biggest client after Japan8217;s Sony Corp last year,became the South Korean firm8217;s biggest customer in the first quarter,mainly by purchasing semiconductors,according to Samsung8217;s quarterly report.

Samsung is one of the fastest growing smartphone makers on the back of a boom in Android operating system and has emerged as Apple8217;s strongest competitor in the tablet market.

A spokesman for Apple Korea declined to comment on the patent law suit and reiterated the company8217;s previous stance.

It is no coincidence that Samsung8217;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,the spokesman said.

In the previous filing against Apple,Samsung said it was seeking compensation for patent infringements.

Samsung shares closed up 2.5 percent ahead of news of the law suit.