Samsung denied German 3G patent claim against Apple

Samsung has been denied its second 3G patent claim against Apple by a German court.

The Mannheim regional court in Germany rejected Samsung's complaint against Apple related to the 3G wireless standard on Friday but did not state a specific reason at the ruling, according to software patents expert, Florian Mueller.

The same court also rejected another 3G-related patent claim from Samsung on 20 January.

"At the mid-November hearings it looked like Samsung was reasonably likely to prevail on at least one of the two patents. The case that was adjudicated today looked more promising to Samsung than the one dismissed last week," Mueller wrote in a blog post on Friday. "For Samsung, this outcome must be disappointing."

Samsung had not returned a request for comment at the time of writing.

Samsung and Apple are engaged in a number of legal disputes — including claims in Germany, the US and the Netherlands — over patents held by the two companies, including one related to entering 'smileys' on a smartphone.

However, given the profitable performance of both Samsung and Apple in their most recent financial results the situation is likely to continue for some time, according to Mueller.

"Since both companies are doing very well — with Apple being not just highly but even unbelievably profitable — they can afford to keep going, and at this point neither litigant has the leverage to force its rival into a settlement," Mueller wrote.