Apple and rival Samsung has extended their legal row to Japan with Apple filing a lawsuit against its South Korean frenemy in the country, a report from the Kyodo news agency has revealed.

Apple and Samsung have extended their legal battle to Japan with the filing of an Apple lawsuit against its South Korean rival in the country. Image: gillyberlin / Flickr (CC)

According to the report, Apple is said in its newest lawsuit against Samsung that the Suwon, South Korea-based consumer electronics powerhouse is infringing patents it owns which are used in the iPhone and the iPad.

Citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, the Kyodo news agency says that the lawsuit has been filed by Cupertino, California-based Apple at the Tokyo District Court.

Apple is demanding a stop in sale in the country of the Samsung Galaxy smartphone line. The iPhone maker is also seeking a damage award worth 100 million yen (about $1.3 million).

Furthermore, the Kyodo news agency said that the first hearing has already been conducted last Wednesday.

Apple and Samsung are currently in a legal war as the two companies’ products, particularly their smartphones and tablets, continue to rival one another in the tech space.

Their legal spat started in April with Apple suing Samsung saying the South Korean consumer electronics giant is “slavishly” copying its products.

About Solon Harmony Dolor

A passion for technology and journalism makes this upcoming writer very interested in social media and technology news. Fresh from finishing an English and Journalism degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman, he aims to bring interesting news to our readers .