Apple Inc. has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission to block U.S. sales of Samsung Electronics Co.’s smartphones and tablet PCs, escalating the legal tussle between the two mobile giants.

Apple’s ITC filing comes less than one week after Samsung filed a similar complaint with the federal agency, seeking to block Apple from importing the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch products to the United States for sale after they are manufactured in China.

“The Galaxy S line of mobile phones has been designed to look and operate like the iPhone, and it infringes on multiple Apple utility and design patents,” Apple said in the complaint filed with the commission on Tuesday (Washington time). “Apple requests that the United States International Trade Commission commence an investigation.”

The Cupertino, California-based company accused six of Samsung’s Galaxy smartphone series ― Fascinate, Galaxy S 4G, Transform, Captivate, Intercept, Infuse 4G ― and two of its tablet PCs ― Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Tab 10.1 ― of infringing patents and copying designs of its iPhone and the iPad, the document showed.

The Galaxy S smartphone series are the Korean company’s flagship products that have quickly gained traction among mobile consumers worldwide, making Samsung among the most viable rivals to Apple in the smartphone race. Samsung has sold 3 million Galaxy S2 smartphones, the most recent smartphone version, since late April.

The legal row between Apple and Samsung started in April when Apple lodged a lawsuit in the U.S., accusing Samsung of copying the iPhone and the iPad.

Samsung responded with countersuits as well as fresh lawsuits in the U.S., Japan, Germany and South Korea, alleging that Apple violated its wireless technologies and patents. 

(Yonhap News)