Apple filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission on Tuesday in an effort to block the import of Samsung smartphones and tablets. The filing follows a similar request for a preliminary injunction Apple submitted in its patent infringement case against Samsung.
Apple and Samsung have been locked in a legal battle over patent infringement claims for several months. Both companies have alleged that the other’s mobile devices use patented technologies without proper licensing. Both have filed lawsuits in the U.S. and other countries.
Apple asks ITC to block Galaxy smartphone at tablet imports
By filing an ITC complaint, Apple has a backup plan of attack to block Samsung should the courts deny its preliminary injunction request. Should the ITC decide to investigate Apple’s complaint, however, there won’t be a quick decision since the complaint could take as long as 18 months to be heard.
Samsung responded to Apple’s latest filing by saying the company “attempts to create an emergency where none exists,” according to Bloomberg.
Samsung representatives added that should the ITC ban the import of come of its smartphone and tablet products, it ““will not affect by one minute Samsung’s ability to continue selling competing products.”