The International Trade Commission agrees to entertain Samsung's patent claims against Apple

For the next episode of the mobile industry patent infringement soap opera, the International Trade Commission (ITC) has agreed to investigate Samsung's patent claims against Apple.

Samsung filed a counter-claim with the ITC in June, asking for the commission to stop Apple gizmos from being sold to the US until the case is resolved, the same thing that Cupertino asked for Samsung's products. Apple tried to speed up the hearings to no avail.

This is an ordinary procedure, and now the case will be given to one of the five administrative judges, who will schedule an evidential hearing promised within 45 days, and afterwards come up with a determination.

This initial determination will then have to be reviewed by the rest of the commission, a stage where HTC is now in its Apple lawsuit, and then the ITC has to come with a verdict. The whole procedure might take up to a year and a half since inception. Plenty of months ahead for some mudslinging from both sides, switching suppliers-turned-competitors, and overall good times.

source: AppleInsider