Now you didn’t think Samsung was going to simply let Apple sue them over alleged patent infringements by copying the look and feel of Apple’s iPhone and iPad, without striking back as hard as possible did you.

Of course not, it’s not the way things are done in the mobile arena when two top gladiators go to battle. Thus according to the guys over at 9to5 Mac and by way of Reuters, Samsung has now filed patent lawsuits against Apple over the iPhone and Apple iPad saying the iOS devices infringe on 10 of Samsung’s mobile tech patents.

Apparently old Sammy filed the suits in Germany, Japan and South Korea with the 10 infringements mostly over wireless data communication technology, power reduction during data transmission, and 3G technology for reducing errors during data transmission.

Samsung issued a statement to Reuters, which said…“Samsung is responding actively to the legal action taken against us in order to protect our intellectual property and to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communications business.”

Looks like this one could get ugly and could possibly damage relations between Samsung and Apple and jeopardise the business ties between the two smartphone and tablet manufacturers if it gets too far out of hand. Maybe it’s time for Apple and Samsung to get round a table and thrash things out before hitting the courts.