Court Rules Apple Can’t Add Samsung Galaxy S4 to Patent Lawsuit

A California judge has ruled that Apple cannot add the Samsung Galaxy S4 to the list of products at issue in an existing patent lawsuit. In response, Apple said it would have to file a new lawsuit.

Bloomberg’s Joel Rosenblatt reported, “Apple Inc. (AAPL) lost its bid in a lawsuit to add Samsung Electronics (005930) Co.’s Galaxy S4 smartphone to a list of products it alleges to infringe its patents. The decision yesterday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal is part of a second patent case in San Jose, California, between the companies covering technology in newer smartphones, including Apple’s iPhone 5 and Samsung’s Galaxy S III.”

The Verge quoted Grewal, who wrote, “Each time these parties appear in the courtroom, they consume considerable amounts of the court’s time and energy, which takes time away from other parties who also require and are entitled to the court’s attention.”

Apple Insider’s Katie Marsal noted, “In response, an attorney representing Apple said that the exclusion would require the iPhone maker to file a new, separate lawsuit. That’s because the products in question in the current suit, including the Galaxy S III, will likely be out of date by the time the case goes to trial next March.”

CNET’s Don Reisinger explained, “The companies are waging an ongoing court battle over alleged patent infringement on both sides. Last year, a jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages from Samsung, but Judge Koh lowered that to $639.4 million. She also ordered a new trial in November to determine if certain products included in that judgement should have been cited as infringing.”