Apple’s new baby, the iPhone 4S, is getting some attention from rival Samsung. Samsung today announced that it is seeking to block sales of 4S in France. The move comes amid a widespread back-and-forth patent spat between the two companies.
In statement on Samsung Electronics’ official global blog, the company said it will file separate preliminary injunction motions in Paris, France, and Milano, Italy, on Oct. 5, requesting the courts block the sale of Apple’s iPhone 4S in the respective markets.
Samsung’s preliminary injunction requests in France and Italy will each cite two patent infringements related to wireless telecommunications technology, specifically Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) standards for 3G mobile handsets.
“Apple has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property rights and free ride on our technology,” the company said in the blog post. “We believe it is now necessary to take legal action to protect our innovation.”
On the flipside of the coin, Apple recently won an injunction of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany for Samsung’s infringement on Apple patents relating to form factor and UI.
Apple currently has cases similar to the one in Germany pending here in the United States, Asia and Australia.