Samsung plans to request injunctions in France and Italy on Wednesday to block the import and sale of Apple’s just announced iPhone 4S. The move is part of Samsung’s ongoing patent infringement battle with Apple over similarities between the iPhone and iPad, and its Galaxy smartphone and tablet products.
Samsung wants iPhone 4S injunctions in Italy and France
Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S during a special media event on Tuesday with plans to ship the combination iPod and smartphone in the U.S. and several other countries on October 14. The new model looks like the iPhone 4 it replaces, but has a faster processor, better cameras, and Apple’s Siri voice control.
“Apple has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property rights and free-ride on our technology,” Samsung representatives said in a statement, according to Reuters. “We will steadfastly protect our intellectual property.”
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, and have filed lawsuits against each other in the U.S. and other countries.
A German court recently upheld an injunction blocking the sale of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in the country. Samsung has filed an appeal in hopes of overturning that ruling. Apple was also awarded a temporary injunction through a Dutch court blocking the sale of some Galaxy devices in the European Union.
Samsung previously agreed to keep its Galaxy Tab 10.1 out of Australia until the beginning of October while a judge reviewed the case, and now potentially faces a court-ordered ban on the tablet thanks to a request from Apple for an injunction.
The court filings in France and Italy probably aren’t the last that Samsung has planned. The company said it could file for injunctions in other countries, too.