Samsung attempts to ban sales of Apple products in France

Samsung has filed a complaint in France which says that Apple’s iPhone and the iPad tablets infringe on its patents.

According to a spokesperson for Samsung, “The complaint focuses on three technology patents, and not on the design of the tablet.”

Sources say that the complaint revolves around three Samsung UMTS patents as well as the iPhone 4, 3GS and 3 models. Also included in the lawsuit are both iPads. Universal Mobile Telecommunications services or UMTS is a 3G standard which is capable of a theoretical 2MB data connection and has been available since 2001.

Prior to this, a Düsseldorf court banned sales of the Samsung Galaxy Tablet across Germany, stating that the Tab 10.1 directly copied the look of the iPad. Samsung have said that they will appeal the decision made by the German courts. Back in July, representatives from Samsung flew to France in order to file the complaint.

Elsewhere in Europe, a Hague court banned three Samsung mobile phones models in the Netherlands owing to an Apple lawsuit. Samsung will attempt to appeal the hearing later this month. Samsung then responded with a counter-ban as they now attempt to end all sales of Apple in South Korea. Korea is the home of Samsung and being able to ban sales of the US Apple devices will be seen as a victory for the Korean-based telecommunication giant.

Back in April the lawsuits began when Apple filed a suit against Samsung claiming that it copied its tablet and smartphone designs. Samsung then responded by saying that Apple had infringed on five of its patents.

The fight is now on in Asia, the United States, South Korea, Australia and in parts of Europe. Despite this, France is seeing the Samsung Galaxy selling above expectations ever since it was launched in August.

The hearing is planned for December.

Image: Gadgetmix.com