The competition is fierce in the electronics industry. In February 2012, Apple Inc. overtook Samsung Electronics as the leader of smartphone sales in the world. Apple sold 35.46 million smartphones in the fourth quarter of 2011, while Samsung sold slightly less with 34 million smartphones.

It was on this day, December 19th, in 2011 that Samsung Electronics filed a patent infringement claim in Germany against Apple.

The legal battle between Samsung and Apple began in April 2011. Apple claimed that Samsung stole some of their intellectual property. Samsung retaliated by countersuing with claims that Apple infringed on Samsung’s patented mobile communications technologies. By August 2011, the two companies had a total of 19 suits being held in 9 countries on 4 different continents.