With the new 2018 Apple iPhone models expected to be unveiled tomorrow at Apple's "Gather round" event starting at 10am PDT, the company's 2017 handsets face a ban in South Korea. This all revolves around a patent infringement claim made by a company named KAIST. The latter says that it holds a patent on the FinFET technology used in the production of many of the chipsets found in mobile phones, including the A-series SoC's that power the iPhone.

If the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy in South Korea upholds the validity of KAIST's patent, and agrees that Apple infringed on said patent, South Korea could ban Chinese and Hong Kong imports of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 9.7-inch, and the iPad Pro (9.7-inch, 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch versions). Because this ruling by the South Korean regulatory agency will end up affecting many smartphone manufacturers, it turns out that Samsung is submitting evidence to the Korean agency refuting the validity of the patent.

Yes, Sammy is trying to help Apple beat this infringement rap in South Korea. Oh, the irony. But the truth is, what is good for Apple in this particular situation is also good for Samsung and other phone producers. In addition, Samsung is fighting a similar case against KAIST in a U.S. court, and has already submitted evidence to that court that attempts to reject the patent's bona fides.

"We cannot but pay attention to the litigation in the U.S. and South Korea involving Samsung Electronics although our current investigation is targeting Apple. This is because Samsung Electronics submitted evidence to refute the novelty of the patent, which is required for the patent to be regarded as being valid."-Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy

The Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy is apparently having trouble reaching a conclusion; the regulatory agency has already extended the investigative period twice.