Image caption Apple and Samsung have both accused each other of patent infringement

Samsung electronics has raised the stakes in its current legal battle with Apple by seeking a ban on sales of iPhone 4S in Australia and Japan.

This follows similar pleas by the Korean manufacturer in France and Italy claiming patent infringement by Apple.

The move comes after a court in Australia temporarily banned the sales of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1.

The two companies have been involved in a bitter legal battle involving smartphones and tablet PCs.

"Apple has continued to violate our patent rights and free ride on our technology," Samsung said in a statement. "We will no longer stand idly by and will steadfastly protect our intellectual property."

Losing ground?

While there have been claims and counter claims from both sides, Apple seems to be gaining the initial edge in the legal battle between the two.

Last week, a judge in the US ruled that Samsung's tablets infringed patents owned by Apple. However, she said that Apple needed to prove the validity of those patents in order to win an injunction preventing the sale of Samsung's Galaxy Tab.

This followed a ban by an Australia court on the sale of Samsung's Galaxy tab 10.1 in the country.

Samsung said it had filed an appeal against the Australian court's decision.

Apple has also scored a victory against its rival in Germany, Europe's biggest economy, banning the sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Meanwhile Samsung's plea for a sales ban against some of Apple products was rejected by a Dutch court last Friday.