Judge allows Apple and Samsung to add devices to patent suit

The order handed down by U.S. Magistrate Judge Grewal noted that the additions were granted because both companies were "diligent in amending" their claims during the early stages of the lawsuit, reports Reuters.

The judgment is part of Apple's Galaxy Nexus suit, which was first filed in February. The Cupertino company first asserted a number of utility patents against the Samsung smartphone, a move countered by the Korean electronics giant's own claims against certain Apple products. The case is being heard in the same court as the Apple v. Samsung patent trial that resulted in a $1.05 billion verdict against Samsung in August.

As for the products to be added to the amended complaint, Apple has included Samsung's Galaxy S III, the Galaxy Note 10.1 and the Galaxy Nexus version of Google's Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system. For its part, Samsung has added Apple's latest iPhone 5 to its countersuit, making good on a September promise to assert claims against the handset.

In Thursday's order, Judge Grewal made special note to warn Apple of opposing future Samsung amendments to the lawsuit:

Given the early stage of this litigation and the reasoning of this order, the court notes that Apple should think twice before opposing similar amendments reflecting other newly-released products — e.g. the iPad 4 and iPad mini — that Samsung may propose in the near future.

The California case is slated to go to get underway in 2014, with each party asserting eight patent claims against the other.