Samsung seeks to ban iPhone 4S amid patent row

Samsung could target the iPhone 4S, the announced only yesterday next-generation Apple smartphone, in an ongoing patent infringement battle between the two companies.

The Korean phone giant said it would file suit against the iPhone 4S in France and Italy, in a bid to ban the phones less than a day after it was announced, adding fuel to the fire in the intensifying row.

It will also file legal cases in other countries "after further review", Reuters reports.

"Apple has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property and free-ride on our technology", Samsung said in a statement, adding: "We will steadfastly protect our intellectual property".

Preliminary requests for a ban on the iPhone 4S will be filed today, revolving around two particular patents relating to its wireless WCDMA technology. It adds to Samsung's filings earlier this year in the United States in April, claiming that the wireless patents were infringed upon.

Under European law, companies can seek a ban on products even before products are let loose on the sales floor.

The ongoing patent row threatens Samsung's smartphone business, with the Galaxy tablet and smartphone range allegedly violate the design patents of Apple's corresponding iPad and iPhone range.

Samsung has had its products banned in a number of countries already, including on its own home turf in South Korea.

In the U.S., however, as the legal battle between the two companies rage on, cellular networks Verizon and T-Mobile have stepped into the ring in a bid to resolve the differences, before a possible ban could impede their own businesses.

Both Verizon and T-Mobile sided with Samsung, a manufacturer of 4G compatible smartphones, citing reasons that 4G network adoption rates would suffer if Samsung's phones were banned in the U.S.

Apple did not wish to comment.

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