Samsung have lost the first round of a U.S. trade case against Apple. This will count as the second big defeat this year in America as both companies continue to sue and countersue across the globe.

Samsung are said to infringe on four patents, including one for touch screen technology co-invented by Steve Jobs and another for the front face of the iPhone. Thomas Pender, the U.S. International Trade Commissions Judge said in a notice on the agency website.

The findings of the judge are subject to review by the full commission, who could actually stop products entering the country at the U.S. border.

This case is only one of three dozen currently in deliberation between Apple and Samsung. So far Apple have received a $1 billion ruling in their favour this August. Samsung have had more success outside America, winning a ruling yesterday in The Hague.

The American victories for Apple haven't gone unnoticed. Will Stofega, a program manager at IDC spoke to Bloomberg and said “People see what’s happening in the other countries, but here in the U.S., every time they go up against Apple, they lose. Samsung will continue to fight. In the long run, this cult of Apple may not be a good thing to have.”

Adam Yates a US based spokesman for Samsung said “If left to stand, this initial determination could lead to fewer choices, less innovation, and potentially higher prices for the American consumer. We remain confident that the full commission will ultimately reach a final determination that affirms our position that patent law must not be manipulated to give one company a monopoly over rectangles with rounded corners, or technology that is being improved every day by Samsung and other companies.”

Kitguru says: Samsung look almost certain to lose many of the major cases in America.

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