T-Mobile backs Samsung in Apple case

T-Mobile USA filed a brief today opposing Apple's efforts to ban several Samsung Electronics products from the U.S., the second carrier to make such a move in the past week.

"While T-Mobile respects intellectual property rights and believes that owners of intellectual property deserve the right to present their arguments and evidence of infringement in court, a preliminary injunction is a drastic and extraordinary measure, and the courts should pay particular attention to its public consequences," T-Mobile said in a statement.

The filing was made with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

T-Mobile follows Verizon Wireless, which also filed a brief in the past week, seeking status as a friend of the court to oppose the action. Both carriers argue that by denying Samsung products, it would hurt their holiday product lineup and unnecessarily harm customers and the carriers.

While the move was a bit awkward to make for Verizon, which carries the iPhone, that isn't the case with T-Mobile. With Sprint Nextel reportedly getting the iPhone, T-Mobile will be the only national carrier not to carry the iPhone. It was an issue T-Mobile's chief marketing officer, Cole Brodman, addressed in an open letter to customers posted on the company's blog yesterday.

In the letter, Brodman talked up its focus on Android, and noted Samsung's Galaxy S II as a major product for the holidays.

Samsung is expected to announce a similarly high-profile product for Verizon Wireless as well.

Samsung and Apple are engaged in a massive legal battle over the alleged illegal use of their respective intellectual property. The conflict has already spilled into multiple courts in the U.S., South Korea, Australia, Europe, and elsewhere.