Samsung seeks iPhone 4S sales ban in France and Italy

Samsung will attempt to block iPhone 4S sales in France and Italy, the company has announced, citing two 3G WCDMA patents it claims Apple has infringed. Filing separate preliminary injunction motions in Paris and Milano today, Samsung claims that Apple “has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property rights and free ride on our technology” and that the company believes “it is now necessary to take legal action to protect our innovation.”

“The infringed technology is essential to the reliable functioning of telecom networks and devices” Samsung’s statement explains, going on to point out that the company “believes that Apple’s violation as being too severe and that the iPhone 4S should be barred from sales.” Meanwhile it won’t be the only injunction Samsung is seeking: the company says it plans to file further demands for a preliminary block on iPhone 4S sales in other countries “after further review.”

Samsung had already been tipped to be readying a legal intervention against Apple’s fifth-gen smartphone. Last month, an unnamed company exec told Korean newspapers that not only did Samsung intend to make as much of a nuisance of itself as possible, but that “for as long as Apple does not drop mobile telecommunications functions, it would be impossible for it to sell its i-branded products without using our patents.”

Meanwhile, Samsung and Apple remain locked in other legal battles in the US, Europe, Australia and elsewhere, with Apple claiming its Korean foe is an arch “copyist” that blatantly borrows from iPhone and iOS stylings. The iPhone 4S, announced yesterday, is expected to be released on October 14.