Samsung Galaxy S4 Not Added to Apple Patent Lawsuit

The feud for technological dominance between Apple and Samsung has a long history, and it shows no sign of slowing down—despite the fact that the former depends on the latter for parts in its iPhones and iPads. Today, there are reports that Apple’s request to add Samsung’s Galaxy S4 smartphone to its seemingly endless patent infringement lawsuit has been denied by a judge…for the second time.

According to a post on CNET, the ruling came down yesterday from US Magistrate Judge Paul Grewal, who echoed the sentiments expressed earlier by US District Court Judge Lucy Koh. Here’s what he wrote:

“Throughout the hearing, Apple warned that excluding the Galaxy S4 would result in yet another case with more claims of infringement and would require Apple to continue to play, in counsel’s words, ‘whack-a-mole’ with Samsung. […]Apple already needs to dismiss without prejudice several products from this case and so a new trial would be likely regardless. Given the likely undue prejudice to Samsung and Judge Koh’s directives regarding the management and progression of this case, the court DENIES Apple’s request to add the Galaxy S4 to its contentions.”

In short, Apple’s request is simply too much for a legal dispute with no end in sight. Adding the Galaxy S4 to the lawsuit would punish Samsung’s ongoing business efforts while the companies continue to fight things out in the courtroom. As such, yes, Apple will simply have to bring Samsung to court again if it really wants to take on the S4 as well.

Meanwhile, Samsung is certainly not playing the victim in the ongoing rivalry. A post on Bloomberg reports that the Korean smartphone maker is urging US trade officials to enforce an import ban placed on certain models of Apple’s iPhone 4 and iPad 2, a ban won by Samsung when a court decided that the devices “infringe[d on] a Samsung patent for a widely used way phones transmit data.” Apparently Samsung is demanding royalties from Apple, which the Cupertino-based company has refused on the grounds that they’re excessive and unreasonable.

In short, no matter what happens in legal dispute, chances are good that another one (or an appeal of the first one) will be right around the corner. And all the while, Apple buys parts from Samsung for its gadgets, exemplifying one of the weirdest relationships in the tech business.