Apple, Samsung Escalate Patent Battle in Australia

Apple is now including 278 claims in its complaint to the New South Wales Federal Court, covering 22 different violations in 10 different products. The lawsuit previously called into question just three patents that Apple claims the Galaxy Tab 10.1 violated.

Apple's decision to increase its claims against Samsung will likely lead to further trial delays in the case. The South Korean electronic giant's lead barrister, Neil Young, said the company will need time prepare its defense against Apple, potentially postponing a trial date to the summer or later.

Samsung has so far done its best to turn Apple's lawsuits again its products into a positive in Australia. In November, the court overturned a ruling that banned the Galaxy Tab 10.1 from being sold in the country, which lead to Samsung marketing the device as "the tablet Apple tried to stop".

The company also ramped its own case against Apple. The iPad maker is currently preparing to defend Samsung's claim the company infringed on its 3G connectivity patent in a case that will likely go to court in November.

Samsung and Apple's patent lawsuits spanned several countries throughout 2011. With new developments in the cases pushing trial dates to the end of 2012, the protracted battles will likely continue to escalate between the two rivals. Potential for more issues to arise will also grow between the two tech giants as they launch new products each claim violates the other's patents.

The two companies have managed to continue their business relationship, as Samsung is still Apple's main provider of semiconductor chips, but their agreement could come under more pressure as their patent suits grow larger and more extensive in scale.

Samsung and Apple's devices go head-to-head this year, with both manufacturers shipping millions of devices that will directly compete in the market, but their new products will continue to battle for the spotlight against the headlines the companies make in the court room.