Samsung asks ITC to block US sales of Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod

Samsung has asked the International Trade Commission (ITC) to block the import of iPhones, iPads and iPods into the US as part of its ongoing dispute with Apple over patent infringement.

In a filing on the ITC web site the firm demands an investigation into infringement by wireless communication devices, portable music and data processing devices and tablet computers produced by Apple.

It is within the ITC's remit to block import of products to the US in such cases and it could reach a decision on the issue within 18 months.

The dispute between the two companies started in April when Apple sued Samsung accusing its Galaxy line of Android tablets and handsets of being too similar to its own iPad and iPhone range - both in design and operating system.

Samsung countersued with similar claims, and Apple responded with stronger charges.

Talks between the firms aimed at ending the dispute appear to have failed and the two are locked in the discovery phase of the US investigation, with Samsung demanding plans for the iPhone 5 and iPad3 prototypes.

Software expert and founder of the No Software Patents organisation, Florian Müller, suggested that the fight will have a knock on effect on the sourcing of Apple's next generation A6 processor of which Samsung currently supplies a significant proportion.

"Manufacturing electronics components for third parties is a low-margin business compared to the opportunity of being a major consumer brand for mobile device," he wrote.

"That's why Samsung would rather defend its Galaxy and other nameplate products than back down only to retain Apple as a customer for its manufacturing operations."

"And Apple would rather find other suppliers than be limited in its enforcement of intellectual property rights by supply chain considerations."

Apple is no stranger to the ITC, having recently lost a case with Nokia over iPhone patents that could cost the company as much as €420m.

Last year Apple also faced ITC investigations after complaints from Kodak and S3 Graphics over its digital imaging technology.