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Samsung relents, won’t try to block iPhone 4S sales in South Korea after all

Something strange has happened concerning the ongoing legal battles between Samsung and Apple: The former changed its mind and is now saying it won’t block iPhone 4S sales in South Korea after all. According to The Chosun Ilbo, a major South Korean newspaper, Samsung will not impose a sales blockage on the iPhone 4S which launched in the country this past Friday.

Debating “until the last moment” whether to file a motion similar to those they had previously filed against Apple in France, Italy, Australia and Japan, Samsung caved in. They will not be filing an injunction on iPhone 4S sales on their home turf. According to a senior Samsung executive:

We concluded that we should engage in legal battles with Apple only in the global market, but not in order to gain more market share in Korea.

Samsung also requested to see the iPhone 4S firmware source code and details of Apple’s carrier subsidy agreement. A judge last week ruled in favor of that request. Even in the wake of the ugly public brawl between the South Korean technology conglomerate and its biggest parts buyer, it’s been reported Samsung will nevertheless manufacture the A6 chip for Apple’s 2012 iPhone and iPad models.

Remember, Samsung threatened back in September, ahead of the October 4 iPhone 4S unveiling, to block sales of Apple’s upcoming handset when it launched in South Korea. Back then, the company planned on seeking an injunction against iPhone 4S sales in the country over an alleged violation of Samsung’s wireless technology related patents.

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