Samsung to go after iPhone 5 in Europe too?

iPhone Air concept render by Ciccarese Design

On Monday, The Korea Times wrote Samsung would seek “a complete ban” on iPhone 5 sales right after the handset goes on sale in Korea. Today, Reuters chimed in with new pieces of information asserting Samsung’s retaliatory moves could include an injunction against iPhone 5 in Europe. The story, based on “a source familiar with the matter”, goes like this:

Samsung Electronics Co is considering legal action to ban sales of Apple’s new iPhone, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, in what could be its strongest step to defend against claims by the U.S. firm that the South Korean firm had copied its product designs. The source declined to elaborate further on where Samsung planned to take legal actions and the Maeil Business Newspaper reported that the South Korean firm may seek injunction request on Apple’s new iPhone in Europe.

Recent developments have brought new twists, marking a change in Samsung’s otherwise defensive handling of its ongoing legal spat with Apple, its biggest buyer of electronic components. The case now involves 23 lawsuits in multiple countries such as France, Japan, Germany, Korea and the United States. In fact……Apple’s accusations that Samsung thoroughly copied their iOS mobile devices with the Galaxy smartphones and tablets have brought their long-standing business relationship to the point of no return, with Apple allegedly taking its lucrative chip making business to rival TSMC. Apple is expected to unveil iPhone 5 at a media event later this month. The sought-after phone should hit store shelves early October.