Samsung: 'Apple started it'

Samsung has filed for bans on Apple's iPhone 4S smartphone in Japan and Australia, saying it will not back down in its global war with the American company.

The Tokyo-based suit also seeks a preliminary injunction against sales of the iPad 2 tablet, according to The Korea Times. Samsung has already made applications to have the iPhone 4S banned in France and Italy.

The two companies now have dozens of suits in play against each other in various countries, in an ongoing tussle that began in April when Apple accused Samsung of "slavishly" copying its iOS products. Apple has so far having succeeded in getting temporary bans on Samsung's Android tablets in Australia and Germany.

"Samsung doesn’t want to be involved with legal issues, but in this case, Apple started it. It's natural for Samsung to defend our bottom line," an unnamed Samsung executive told The Korea Times.

Referring to a Dutch court's decision last week to turn down Samsung's application to have iPhones and iPads banned in the Netherlands, the executive said his company was not "losing our grip".

"The recent decisions by courts in Europe weren't favourable, but we are still positive that we will win eventually," the executive said. "The bottom line is that our legal team has reached a consensus to beat Apple at the appeals courts. We are in for the long-haul."