[JURIST] German patent licensing firm IPCom accused Apple [corporate websites] on Wednesday of infringing on a 3G technology patent. Last month, the European Patent Office [official website] upheld IPCom’s patent [PC World report] on the technology following challenges from Apple, Bokia, HTC, Ericsson and Vodafone. According to a news release [text, in German] by the Manneheim Regional Court [official website], which is scheduled to hear the case next week, IPCom seeks USD $2.1 billion for Apple’s alleged infringement [PC World report] on the 3G patent and one additional patent, which manages access to overloaded wireless communication channels.

Wednesday’s lawsuit in Germany is merely one of a number lawsuits that Apple has been party to regarding patent infringement. In January a federal judge in California ruled [JURIST report] that Samsung infringed on Apple’s patented word recommendation technology. Earlier that month a federal appeals court ruled [JURIST report] that Apple did not infringe on any of Google’s Motorola Mobility patents in the creation of the iPhone. In December South Korea’s Soul Central District Court dismissed [JURIST report] a claim by Samsung which sought to ban the sale of certain Apple products. In November a US jury awarded Apple $290.45 million [JURIST report] following a re-trial on damages.