Monday 17 October 2011

Samsung moves to halt iPhone 4S sales in Australia and Japan

THE WAR of the smartphones is on in earnest after Samsung filed a lawsuit in Australia to have Apple's new iPhone pulled from sale.

Just four days after it launched to massive queues, the iPhone 4s could be pulled from sale after Samsung filed an injunction with the New South Wales Registry.

The company also filed a lawsuit against the new iPhone and iPad 2 in Japan.

Samsung's Australian lawsuit alleges that the new smartphone violates three Samsung patents about the transmission of internet data.

``Apple has continued to violate our patent rights and free ride on our technology,'' Samsung said in a statement. ``We will steadfastly protect our intellectual property.''


Samsung's lawsuit came as the company appealed the decision to block its tablet, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 from sale in Australia, after Apple claimed it looked too much like an iPad.

Telsyte research director Foad Fadaghi said today's lawsuit was ``not totally unexpected'' though it could deal a serious blow to Apple and smartphone users if it succeeded.

``If it is successful those people have who bought the iPhone 4s will be glad they got their hands on one already,'' he said.

Apple sold more than one million iPhone 4s handsets in its first day available for pre-order and Apple Stores and carriers sold out around the country at its Friday launch.

Last Thursday, Apple won a victory in its global patent battle with Samsung when a judge in Australia issued a temporary injunction blocking the South Korean company from selling its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer there.

Then on Friday a Dutch court ruled against Samsung's claim that Apple violated its third-generation mobile network technology patents and rejected its call for a ban on Apple's products in the Netherlands.

The legal dispute started in April when Apple accused Samsung of copying key design elements in smartphones and tablets.

Samsung is also seeking to block sales of the iPhone 4S in Italy and France in separate legal action.

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