Samsung Electronics Co. has filed a lawsuit seeking 10 billion won ($9.43 million) in compensation from British manufacturer Dyson in a patent row over a vacuum cleaner mechanism, industry sources informed of the legal proceeding said Sunday.

Samsung's suit is a counteraction against Dyson, which earlier had accused the South Korean company of violating its patents on the mechanism used in its vacuum cleaners that allows for swift change of direction without flipping or snagging. The British firm initiated legal action through the High Court in England in September last year but withdrew the suit two months later.

Samsung released its Motion Sync vacuums cleaners in the summer last year and immediately seized the local market with the product. The company's market share in the sector jumped to 75 percent from 18 percent in four months with the new vacuum cleaner.

The South Korean firm denies stealing Dyson's invention and accused the British rival of defamation. Sources said Samsung may seek greater compensation depending on how the court proceedings go.

"Dyson has groundlessly portrayed Samsung Electronics as a repeated patent violator through malicious suits and a publicity campaign, undercutting all Samsung Electronics products as copycats," a company official said.  "We filed the suit because the damages are extensive and we fear similar incidents occurring again." (Yonhap News)