[JURIST] Electronics manufacturer Samsung announced on Friday that it has filed patent infringement suits against Apple [corporate websites] in three different countries. The suits, filed in South Korea, Japan and Germany, may be retaliation for infringement suits filed by Apple [JURIST report] against Samsung last week. The two companies are significant competitors in the mobile phone and tablet markets, and Samsung alleges that Apple has infringed its technology [Reuters report] related to energy consumption and preventing data transmission errors. After filing the lawsuit against Samsung, Apple indicated a willingness to continue working with Samsung [Bangkok Post report] as a partner, but it is not clear if the three suits filed by Samsung will change Apple’s approach.

Apple has also been embroiled in litigation with Nokia marked by trading accusations of patent infringement. Last month, Nokia filed actions against Apple [JURIST report] in the International Trade Commission and a court in Delaware, accusing Apple of violating seven patents. In December, the litigation spread to Germany, the UK and the Netherlands where Nokia filed 13 patent infringement complaints [JURIST report] against Apple. Last May, Nokia filed a complaint [JURIST report] in the US District Court in the Western District for Wisconsin alleging that Apple iPad and iPhone 3G products infringe additional Nokia patents.