Samsung said on Sunday it has changed the graphic designs used in its latest handset model "Skin," after it was found to have copied Apple and Microsoft artwork. The electronics giant admitted plagiarizing designs of the handset?s graphic user interface. Many graphic designers and other Internet users on various Web communities over the last two weeks have accused the firm of stealing the designs.

The new handset, which began selling here in late April, has an identical graphic icon with Apple's iMac PC which is composed of a ruled notepad and a pen lying on it. Samsung also copied other icons from Microsoft, such as a pile of three yellow sticky notes, and blue and green, round-shaped men that represent MSN Messenger.

Samsung said it has not identified how or by whom the copied icons were put into the new cell phone. The company recalled the Skin phones from retailers in Korea, and users who already purchased the phone can update the graphic menu by downloading software via the company homepage.