Samsung wants US import ban against key Apple

Samsung Electronics is asking the United States to prohibit Apple from importing key products including the latest iPhone and iPad devices amid an escalating patent dispute. Samsung filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission over what it claims are Apple's violation of five patents held by Samsung, the Suwon, South Korea-based company said yesterday. The complaint was filed Wednesday. Permanent exclusion "The complaint requests relief in the form of a permanent exclusion order prohibiting entry to the United States of all Apple products in violation of these patents," Samsung said, adding that the items include the iPhone 4, iPad 2 and iPod Touch. Article continues below Though Apple is a US company, many of its products are assembled in China and exported to the US. Apple Inc spokesman Steve Park in Seoul declined comment. Consumers shouldn't worry about being able to buy products. These disputes take months or years to resolve and typically end with payments of licensing fees rather than any import ban. On June 14, Apple agreed to pay Nokia Corp a one-time sum to settle their long-standing disputes over patents that cover features such as swiping gestures on touch screens and the built-in "app store" for downloading updated programmes. The amount wasn't disclosed. The action by Samsung is the latest move in a fight that began in April when Apple Inc sued Samsung Electronics Co in a California court claiming that Samsung's Galaxy line of smartphones and tablet computers copy its iPad and iPhone. Samsung responded by filing lawsuits in South Korea, the US and elsewhere alleging patent violations by Apple. Apple then filed a lawsuit against Samsung in Seoul Central District Court.