Legal tussles between Samsung and Apple seem to crop up every week, but ahead of the California court case between the two parties - due to take place later today - Samsung has taken a few major blows in Europe.

In the Netherlands, the Korean firm has been forced to implement changes in three different handets - Galaxy S, SII and Ace - in order to adhere to Apple's patent claims.

If these changes had not been made, a series-wide sales ban would have come into effect from October 14.

Mod scenePatents reportedly employed in the handsets in question refer to the method of scrolling through photos on the devices.

While the changes will obviously cost Samsung, sales are unlikely to be hit, with the newly modified devices likely to hit the shop shelves from as early as October 22. 

Indeed, the ruling itself isn't as bad as those delivered in some countries: in Germany, for instance, Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 was pulled from sale back in September.

A recent ruling in Australia revolving around "heuristic touchscreen" technology patents has also resulted in the Android tablet being banned, if only temporarily.

Ozzy rules

This is a case that could extend well beyond Samsung, however. Blogger Florian Mueller claims these patents could also be applied to any number of Android devices.

Apple's success in Australia, he suggests, could spur the company on to attack any number of manufacturers employing similar designs.

In short, Android devices could either face a blanket bans across the globe, or be forced to alter their software accordingly.

"Apple owns those two patents in most major jurisdictions," Mueller told mocoNews.

"If other courts also conclude that the patents are valid, they will almost certainly find them infringed by Android. Invalidation is Google's only realistic chance to fend off this threat.

"Australia is the first jurisdiction to have taken a decision on this."

In the US, Samsung is looking to defend the Infuse 4G, Galaxy S 4G, Droid Charge, and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 against patent infringements alleged by Apple.

[source: moconews/Foss Patents]