Another day, another lawsuit. Samsung Electronics Co has filed patent lawsuits against Apple over the U.S. firm's iPhone and iPad after Apple claimed Samsung's smartphones and tablets "slavishly" copied its products, reports "Reuters" (http://macte.ch/Lh0Le).

Apple's lawsuit filed on April 15 in the U.S. claims Samsung's mobile phones and Galaxy Tab. Apple says Samsung "slavishly" copied the iPhone and iPad.

"Rather than innovate and develop its own technology and a unique Samsung style for its smart phone products and computer tablets, Samsung chose to copy Apple's technology, user interface and innovative style in these infringing products," the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit, filed April 15 in US District Court in Northern California, alleges Samsung copied the look, product design and product user interface of Apple's products. Samsung violated Apple's patents and trademarks, the suit alleges.

“It’s no coincidence that Samsung’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,” an Apple representative told "Mobilized" (http://macte.ch/r4gKv). “This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.”

The Samsung lawsuits don't directly respond to the Apple suit. Rather hey accuse Apple of violating patents covering cellphone transmission technologies. Samsung said in a statement Friday that Apple's iPhone and iPad infringe Samsung's 10 mobile technology patents and it called for Apple to stop infringing its technology and compensate the company. The company said the suits -- filed in South Korea, Japan and Germany -- involved 10 alleged infringements of patents mainly involving power reduction during data transmission, 3G technology for reducing errors during data transmission, and wireless data communication technology.

"Samsung is responding actively to the legal action taken against us in order to protect our intellectual property and to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communications business," the company said in a statement.

The legal battle between Apple and Samsung could jeopardize business ties between the two technology companies, as Apple depends heavily on Samsung for components such as chips and LCD displays, notes "Reuters." But for now the companies are doing a lot of business together.

Apple bought nearly US$6 billion worth of Samsung components last year. However, Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook analysts on Wednesday, that "we felt the mobile communication division of Samsung had crossed the line, and after trying for some time to work the issue, we decided we needed to rely on the courts."

-- Dennis Sellers