Samsung countersues Apple for infringing 10 patents

South Korean company Samsung Electronics filed its own lawsuit against Apple accusing the Cupertino giant of infringing 10 patents. Earlier Apple filed a lawsuit against Samsung claiming the Samsung's Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets "slavishly" copies the iPhone and iPad.

Being one of the most rapidly growing smartphone makers Samsung poses a fierce competition for Apple in the tablet market. Galaxy series tablets produced by Samsung are built on Google's Android operating system, which directly competes with Apple's mobile software.

Last year Apple was Samsung’s second-biggest customer mostly purchasing semiconductors. The main violations mentioned by Apple in its lawsuit relate to Galaxy's design features, such as the look of its screen icons.

Meantime, Samsung’s suit filed with the .S. District Court, Northern District of California, alleges that Apple copied many of Samsung's innovations. For instance, one of the patents Samsung accuses Apple of violating involves the ability for mobile phones to display the time, the lawsuit says.