South Korea's Samsung Electronics has filed a complaint in France against its US rival Apple for infringement of three technology patents.

"The complaint focuses on three separate technology patents, and not on the design of the tablets," as was the case in a complaint filed in Germany that Apple won last week, a Samsung spokeswoman has explained.

The complaint was filed before a Paris district court in July and the first hearing is expected in December.

Last week a court in Duesseldorf forbade Samsung from selling its latest Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer in Germany, ruling it had copied Apple's iconic iPad.

Samsung has said it plans to appeal the decision.

In the Netherlands, a court in The Hague banned three Samsung telephone models on August 24 following an Apple suit. Samsung launched a counter-claim, due to be heard by the same court on September 26.

The two firms are at present engaged in legal battles from the United Kingdom, Australia to Asia.

Samsung has responded to Apple's accusations by filing suits of its own in Seoul, requesting the banning of sales of the US firm's products in South Korea.

The spat began in April when Apple filed a suit accusing Samsung of copying its smartphones and tablet computers. Samsung responded with a claim in Seoul alleging five patent infringements by Apple.

Samsung has happily reported that its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer has been selling feverishly well in France since it hit the market in mid-August.

Industry analysts and technology experts in the City of Love have criticised Apple, for what it sees as attempts to stifle the creativity of other technology firms.