Apple won a very significant and symbolic decision from a German court against Samsung yesterday as it further consolidated its lead in the tablet device market. The court ruled that the ban imposed on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be upheld, barring the sales of the tablet in one of the biggest economies of Europe that is Germany.
Samsung, which stated that it will appeal against the decision, has been locked in a worldwide battle with Apple over patents concerning the company’s smartphones and tablet devices since this April. It is a very widely accepted notion that Samsung’s Galaxy range of phones and tablets are currently the closest competitors to Apple’s iPhone and iPad, which have become instant hits with the users. In a statement released by Samsung, the company said that the court’s ruling had disappointed it and it believes that the decision will further restrict progress and the design innovation in the industry.
The statement said that the company will look to explore all the legal options which are open to it, including its relentless worldwide pursuit of Apple with its own array of lawsuits alleging that the Cupertino, California based company infringed upon its patents related to wireless technology. An analyst named Craig Cartier has stated that even as the ruling will not drastically affect the South Korean manufacturer, it can very well act as a potential precedence for the other courts where the two companies are facing each other, setting off a chain reaction which could cost Samsung much.
He added that as there has been something like an arms race for capturing patents in the worldwide technology industry, with Nortel’s patent portfolio having sold at $4.5 billion, people might start to finally realize that the value of patents are nothing more than a bubble which is getting closer to bursting.
The court upheld a temporary injunction which had earlier been awarded to Apple, banning Samsung from selling or advertising its flagship tablet Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the whole of Germany. However, the retail chains such as Media Markt, which is a German consumer electronics store chain, will still be able to supply the device in the country through the sales of their existing stocks and procurement of new supplies directly from Samsung. This has led many analysts to assume that the ban imposed by the court does not have much of a practical implication. Get additional information about Samsung’s tablet in our Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Review.
September 11, 2011 at 2:37 pm
This is ridiculous!!!! Apple owns all rights to a rectangle???!!!!! Was that judge even awake for this one???!!!! The iPad revolves around the most common form factor for monitors and digital picture frames which have been around for years before Apple came along with the iPad! At least the court in the Netherlands got it right. The judge ruled against Apple in that case and ruled there was no infringement as far as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was concerned. Even the victory Apple got in that court against Samsung for injunctions against three of its phones, thankfully, doesn’t mean anything. Judge in that court found infringement but only because of an app in Android 2.3 that Samsung just has to correct by October 13 and then the ban won’t even come into effect. Also, the “victory” Apple got in Germany only applies to the German branch of Samsung as reported by Reuters. Retail outlets can still, legally, sell the stock that they have and can even restock as long as it is from another branch of Samsung (from Netherlands, perhaps?). So take that, Apple. Man, you (I’m looking at you. Steve Jobs) are the biggest cry baby on the planet. Ironic when you consider everything your/Apple’s success is based on always stems back to something you stole! Hey buddy, I haven’t forgotten about Xerox/Parc!!!! Magical my rear!!!!