Korean tech firm claims handset infringes patents

Samsung is seeking a ban on sales of Apple’s iPhone 4S in Japan and Australia.

Korean tech firm claims handset infringes patents

The tech giant has filed preliminary injunction against sales of Apple’s latest smartphone, which went on sale last week, in the Tokyo District Court and the Federal Court in Australia, claiming the device infringes patents held by Samsung.

“Apple has continued to violate our patent rights and free ride on our technology,” Samsung said.

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“We will no longer stand idly by and will steadfastly protect our intellectual property.”

The Japanese injunction claims the iPhone 4S infringes technology and user interface patents held by Samsung, while in Australia, Samsung has claimed Apple’s smartphone is infringing its patents covering the wireless technology used in the device.

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Samsung also called for a ban on sales of the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 in Japan.

The pair are currently in the middle of a patent infringement war that has seen around 20 law suits filed between the pair that cover infringement in Apple’s iPad tablet PC and iPhone range of handsets and Samsung’ Galaxy Tab tablet PCs and Galaxy smartphones.

Samsung’s move comes just says after the tech giant was temporarily banned from selling the Galaxy Tab 10.1, in Australia, following legal action by Apple.

At the beginning of August, Apple approached Australian courts in a bid to obtain an injunction that would prevent Samsung from selling the device in the country. However, it wasn’t until last week (October 13) that Justice Annabelle Bennett granted the injunction. The final hearing in the case is unlikely to take place until next year. This could cause an issue for Samsung, who revealed earlier this month if a decision was not issued by mid-October, the device would be viewed as “commercially dead” in Australia.

Furthermore, last week a court in the Netherlands rejected Samsung’s claims that Apple had violated patents covering 3G technology with its products and subsequently refused to issue a ban on sales of these devices.

The Korean-based tech giant has also applied for a ban on sales of the handset in France and Italy.

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