SAMSUNG SAID IT will file court injunctions in France and Italy seeking to block the sale of Apple’s latest iPhone amid an intensifying patent fight between the smartphone giants.

Samsung plans to file preliminary injunctions in Paris and Milan asking that courts block Apple’s iPhone 4S from being sold in France and Italy, alleging patent infringement of wireless telecommunications technology, the company said today.

“Apple has continued to flagrantly violate our intellectual property rights and free ride on our technology, and we will steadfastly protect our intellectual property,” Samsung said in a statement.

The South Korean company did not say when the French and Italian filings would take place, but also said it plans similar moves in other countries “after further review.”

The announcement comes one day after Apple Inc. unveiled the iPhone 4S in the United States.

Seoul-based Apple spokesman Steve Park, speaking by phone from Japan, declined to comment on Samsung’s announcement.

The companies have been at odds since April when Apple took legal actions claiming Samsung’s Galaxy line of smartphones and tablet computers copy the iPhone and iPad.

Samsung has responded by taking Apple to court over what it alleges are violations of its patents covering wireless communications.

Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co. ranks number 2 in the world in smartphone sales behind Apple, which has headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Samsung said the technology it claims Apple infringes “is essential to the reliable functioning of telecom networks and devices” and that it sees the alleged violations as “too severe and that (the) iPhone 4S should be barred from sales.”

Apple has won sales injunctions against Samsung products in the Netherlands and Germany and is seeking one in Australia. Samsung has asked a court in the Netherlands to stop Apple from selling iPhones and iPad tablets in that country.

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