Samsung seeks to block iPhone in France,Italy

Samsung Electronics said that it would seek to block the sale of the iPhone 4S in France and Italy,claiming that Apples newly unveiled smartphone violated its patents.

Samsung Electronics said Wednesday that it would seek to block the sale of the iPhone 4S in France and Italy,claiming that Apples newly unveiled smartphone violated its patents.

In seeking a court injunction against its rival in two major European markets,Samsung,of South Korea,was getting more aggressive in its ever-expanding patent battle with Apple. Samsung said each of its injunction requests would cite two patent infringements related to wireless telecommunications technology,specifically the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access standards for mobile handsets.

Samsung planned to file for preliminary injunctions in other countries after further review,the company said without elaborating.

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The infringed technology is essential to the reliable functioning of telecom networks and devices, Samsung said in a statement. Apple has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property rights and free ride on our technology,and we will steadfastly protect our intellectual property.

Comment from Apple,which is based in California,was not immediately available. The two electronics giants are locked in about 20 legal disputes over patents in nine countries,including Australia,Britain,Germany,Japan,the Netherlands and the US.

The fight began when Apple sued Samsung in April in the US,alleging that the Samsung Galaxy lineup of smartphones and tablet devices slavishly copied the iPhone and iPad in design and user interface. CHOE SANG-HUN