Samsung aims to block sales of iPhone 4S in Europe

October 5, 2011 By Andrew Couts

The Apple vs Samsung patent saga continues, with Samsung now seeking to block sales of the iPhone 4S in two key European markets.

Less than 24 hours after Apple’s new chief executive Tim Cook unveiled the iPhone 4S, the company’s business nemesis, Samsung, has announced that it aims to block sales of the new handset in Italy and France due to patent violations.

Samsung says that, in each market, it would claim violation of two patents that pertain to the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access standards for mobile devices.

“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.”

The maneuver is part of the ongoing legal war between the two electronics giants that is begin waged by both sides around the world. Apple began the series of battles back in April, after it claimed that the Samsung Galaxy line of smarphones and tablets “slavishly” copied Apple’s iPhone and iPad designs. Samsung counter-sued Apple in German, Japan and its home-country of South Korea, taking the war to a global scale.

By seeking the injunction against Apple and the iPhone 4S, Samsung is hitting back for a ban upheld by a German court that prohibits the sale of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in that country – Europe’s largest market – because it too closely resembles the iPad 2.

While Apple and Samsung have long been partners in the production of a wide variety of devices (including the iPhone 4), Samsung appears to be ready to take off the gloves.

“We have kept our business relationship in mind, but we have had enough,” a Samsung official told The New York Times on a condition of anonymity. “We think it’s time to act more aggressively.”

To get a complete understanding of the Apple vs Samsung battle, check out our overview here.

Showing 9 comments

Cyrus Hale at 7:07pm 5th October 2011 Most of the public think the i phone 4s is the i phone 5 so that would scare them.
Anup Sarode at 5:48pm 5th October 2011 And pigs will fly
Mohit Gupta at 5:29pm 5th October 2011 Samsung sucks..!!
Somphou Keomisy at 5:27pm 5th October 2011 I laughed at the "huawei" comment.. Quality?, please my cousin has 2 Ascend and they are both slow, underpowered, has touch troubles( it locked all the time) plus I went to 3 Best Buy to try out their tablet and none of them work, they are what they are... Cheap...I bought the Thrive instead.
Philip Palmer at 3:25pm 5th October 2011 Introducing the Samsung Petty
Selebeli G Ralepeli at 2:52pm 5th October 2011 This is starting to be too predictable. Even my kids can do better!
Troy Stone at 2:51pm 5th October 2011 I hate em both but Samsung is the lesser of 2 evils. I say let em off each other and let quality handset builders like HTC, SonyEricsson (underpowered but sexy) and young upstarts like Huwuei take charge.
Greg Clauson at 2:49pm 5th October 2011 Samsung phones feel cheap, because they are.
Troy Stone at 2:46pm 5th October 2011 Go Sammy Go!!!