[JURIST] A German court on Friday dismissed suits by Apple [corporate website; Bloomberg backgrounder] and Samsung [corporate website; Bloomberg backgrounder] against each other over smartphone technology. Samsung alleged that Apple violated its patents for 3G technology while Apple argued that Samsung violated its patents on slide-to-unlock technology. Samsung officials stated that they were pleased with the ruling and that their Galaxy line of products is distinct and does not copy Apple’s iPad and iPhone products. Including the two suits on Friday, 14 cases have now been decided [Apple Insider report] between Apple and Samsung in Germany.

Apple is involved in litigation all over the world over smartphone technology. Earlier this week Apple won a suit against Motorola Mobility [corporate website; Bloomberg backgrounder] in Germany preventing Motorola from enforcing a verdict [Bloomberg report] while Apple appeals that Apple must remove certain iPad and iPhone models from German online stores. Last month Apple requested that the US District Court for the Northern District of California [official website] grant a preliminary injunction [JURIST report] against Samsung to block the company from selling its new phone, the Galaxy Nexus [official profile]. Apple requested an injunction, but was denied [JURIST report], against Samsung in the same court alleging that Samsung’s “Galaxy” line of products copies Apple’s iPhone and iPad technology. Earlier that month Apple brought suit in the US District Court for the Southern District of California [official website] seeking an injunction to stop Motorola from bringing patent claims against Apple in Germany [JURIST report]. In December the US International Trade Commission (USITC) [official website] narrowly ruled for Apple [JURIST report] against HTC [corporate website; Bloomberg backgrounder] on a patent infringement claim.