Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. on Monday filed a suit
asking courts in Australia and Japan to block the sale of Apple Inc.'s
just-released iPhone 4S smartphone in the two countries.
The move came days after Apple won a temporary injunction stopping
the South Korean company from launching its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet
computer in Australia.
Last week, Australian Federal Court Justice Annabelle Bennett
ruled the injunction was justified because of the likelihood Apple
could prove Samsung had copied patents incorporated in the iPhone and
iPad.
Samsung had already voluntarily delayed the launch of the Galaxy
Tab 10.1 pending the outcome of a court wrangle that was expected to
run into next year.
Samsung said the iPhone 4S had infringed its patents on two mobile
broadband standards.
In its preliminary injunction filed in Tokyo District Court,
Samsung is also seeking an immediate barring of the sale of the
iPhone 4S and iPad 2 in Japan, the company said.
"In light of these violations, Samsung believes the sale of such
Apple devices should be injuncted," Samsung said in a statement.
"Apple has continued to violate our patent rights and free-ride on
our technology. We will steadfastly protect our intellectual
property."
