27th Sep 11
Samsung and Apple involved in more patent wars
by Harry Oldfield
A bite of the Apple: Samsung continues to fight for Galaxy sales rights
A bite of the Apple: Samsung continues to fight for Galaxy sales rights
Samsung and Apple are once again in the courts in their continuing, tit-for-tat war.
On Monday the companies appeared before judges in the Netherlands and Australia, each requesting that the other’s products are banned from sale. In Sydney, Apple’s lawyers alleged that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab infringed patents which related to its touchscreen interface. Meanwhile, Samsung fought back in the Hague, seeking an embargo on iPhones and iPads over 3G patents.
So far Apple has achieved more success in the courts by hindering its rival’s commercial aspirations. At present, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is banned from being sold in Germany, a sales ban on Samsung smartphones is scheduled to begin in the Netherlands next month, and Samsung has delayed its tablet launch in Australia amid the ongoing legal battle there.
Samsung has not yet scored a victory of any significance against Apple, but it has filed law suits in several countries, including South Korea and France. The two companies also have pending actions in the United States. In the Australian hearing on Monday, Apple attorney Steve Burley said that the rival tablet was similar to the iPad 2 in factor, form and shape.
The discussion about both products’ feel and look was similar to the arguments in the earlier European cases, but Apple is also alleging that certain patents have been infringed. The Sydney Morning Herald said that the claims relate to the unlocking, zooming and scrolling features on the Galaxy Tab.
Samsung is rumoured to have filed a counter-claim in Australia, in relation to 3G mobile telecoms patents which it holds. The same pieces of technology were the basis of the Korean company’s claim in the Netherlands. The manufacturer claimed that its rival did not license patented designs which are used in the iPad and iPhone.
Apple claimed that it should not need to as it is already paying Intel and Infineon which then license those Samsung patents.Andreas Udo de Haes, a Dutch reporter, said in a tweet from the court that Samsung claimed it had offered licensing conditions which were rejected by Apple.
As the hearing went on, patent blogger Florian Mueller said that he believes an injunction is quite unlikely. He explained that Samsung could receive a royalty payment, which needs some detailed technical analysis, although Apple will probably be allowed to continue to sell.
Our Stories
- Sandwich labels misleading shoppers
- Unemployment drops unexpectedly but worse still to come
- Tesco store managers see annual bonuses cut
- Royal Mail: half London sorting office to be sold
- Panasonic announces £3.4bn loss
- Thomas Cook attacks government over holidays at home promotion
- Clinton Cards falls into administration
- Wet April sees high street spending fall
- Five tough years ahead for UK jobs market
- Deal struck to save Thomas Cook
- Discount battle leads to sales decline at Morrisons
- Wetherspoon founder: pubs plans to be hit by taxes
Popular Topics
afghanistan al qaeda amazon Apple ASDA bank of england barack obama BBC british airways china david cameron Debenhams Egypt facebook george osborne Google India ipad iphone ivory coast japan Libya London M&S Marks & Spencer Morrisons nhs North Korea Office for National Statistics pakistan protests russia Sainsbury’s South Korea terrorism Tesco Tunisia UK UK retailers UK retail news UK shopping us Waitrose Wikileaks x factorArchive
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- January 2009
