Apple counters Samsung with its own import ban request on Galaxy devices

The high-stakes patent battle between Samsung and Apple took yet another turn on Tuesday when Apple filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission that seeks to bar many Samsung mobile devices from the U.S., according to Bloomberg.

Watching the legal battle between these two companies is like watching a hot tin of popcorn that’s waiting to explode: Every day, there’s a new pop, and you wonder when the whole thing is going to go off. Earlier today, we found out that Microsoft was using its patents related to Android to coax Samsung into paying Microsoft $15 for each Google Android phone it makes.

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Samsung’s ITC complaint mirrors Samsung’s own ITC complaint that was filed about a week ago, which asked for an import ban on all Apple mobile products, including the iPhone and iPad. Then, on Friday, it was revealed that Apple had filed an injunction against four Samsung products, asking for the immediate removal of four Samsung devices from the U.S. market.

Apple’s ITC complaint says Samsung is violating four technical patents and two design patents, which apply to six smartphones and two tablets. The smartphones include the Galaxy S 4G, Fascinate, Transform, Captivate, Intercept, and Infuse 4G. The two tablets are the original Galaxy Tab and the new Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Apple and Samsung have been sparring since April, when Apple first sued Samsung for violating its patents with the Galaxy series of phone and tablet devices.

“Samsung has followed each of Apple’s groundbreaking products with imitation products that incorporate Apple’s technology and distinctive design,” Apple wrote to the ITC.

Now that Samsung and Apple have both sued each other in federal courts and both filed ITC complaints to block the other’s imports, there are likely more chapters to go before this story concludes. Rest assured, we’ll be there with updates as they happen.