Apple Seeking To Block Sales Of Samsung’s Devices In Japan

According to Reuters, this morning Apple sued Samsung in Japan and requested the court to block sales of Samsung tablets and phones in the country:

"Apple has filed a suit with the Tokyo District Court seeking the suspension of sales of Galaxy S and its sequel S II smartphones and the Galaxy Tab 7 in Japan, according to sources close to the matter. The first hearing was held on Wednesday, the source said".

Apple is seeking about $1.3 million in damages. As patent expert Florian Müller said, previously Apple had lodged four complaints with the Tokyo District Court. By coincidence, Japan is also Apple’s high-revenue market. Other countries where the company sued Samsung include Australia, U.K., Germany, U.S. and others.

Last year Galaxy S has outsold the Apple’s tablet in Japan. Also Samsung is the second largest smartphone maker in the world. Nevertheless, iPhone and Android-based smartphones together take almost three-quarters of the market in Japan. The same situation is also on other markets where Google and Apple formed duopoly competing for smartphone supremacy.

Samsung considers its legal disputes with Apple as “destiny”. CEO Choi Gee-sung said in Korea last week:

“Samsung regards court battles with Apple as destiny. We are clashing with Apple in certain areas. Current situations will make us stronger”.

Also Choi Gee-sung denied the information that the company was interested in licensing software for Hewlett-Packard’s webOS or acquiring its PC business, noting that buying OS was “becoming a fashion”.