Samsung will add cross-suits in Oz

In yesterday’s directions hearing in the Federal Court in Sydney, the only new detail to emerge in the Apple-versus-Samsung international lawyers’ progressive dinner is that Samsung will follow its international fightback strategy and file counter-suits against Apple.

Apple has refrained from adding anything to its few public statements about the court case, but apparently remains outraged that Samsung’s plastic rectangular touch-screen computer looks like Apple’s ditto.

The next hearings will take place late in September, reports The Australian. In the meantime, Samsung’s Galaxy 10.1 remains off-limits for Australian customers. Agreeing to the delay (did they have a choice?), Samsung has also said it will give Apple 48 hours’ notice if it decides to schedule a launch date.

Apple is to nominate the Australian patents it accuses Samsung of breaching by Friday, with more details to be filed next Monday.

Samsung said in a statement that it will challenge the validity of unspecified Apple patents – the 2001: A Space Odyssey defense – and will accuse Apple of infringing Samsung patents. ®