Bloomberg reports Samsung has added a patent infringement claim against Apple in Australia to the already existing collection of suits currently going on between the two manufacturers on at least four continents involving smartphone technology disputes. The two companies are now fighting 20 separate patent lawsuits world-wide, each accusing the other of infringing their intellectual property.

The claim, filed with the Federal Court of Australia, accuses Apple of infringing on seven Samsung patents with its iPhone and iPad devices, relating to wireless communications standards. Samsung, seeking to use those patents as a defense, is seeking to invalidate and revoke Apple patents that have been asserted against Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and Galaxy tablets.

The Cupertino, California based Apple and Korean manufacturer Samsung have been involved in a world-wide legal battle over both phones and tablet computers market share. Apple has accused Samsung of “slavishly” copying from Apple’s iPad and iPhone, and has been successful in stopping sales of the Galaxy in both Australia and Germany. There are also current lawsuits in the U.S. and Asia.

Samsung has stated that it “believes there is no legal basis for this motion by Apple,” and that they “will continue to actively defend and protect our intellectual property to ensure our continued innovation and growth in the mobile communication business.”

“Samsung has a proud history of innovation in the mobile industry,” the Suwon, South Korea-based company said. “It has invested continuously in R&D, design and technology to produce our innovative and cutting-edge mobile devices.

(Via: TNW)