British judge rules that Apple must admit to Samsung’s originality
Britain’s High Court of Justice ordered Apple to admit that Samsung Galaxy Tab did not rip off Apple’s iPad.
The stipulations of the ruling are that Apple must make an update on its website that the Samsung Galaxy Tab has nothing to do with the Apple iPad. The order also demanded postings in British newspapers of Apple’s fallacy.
According to The Chicago Tribune, the British Judge, Judge Birss, used the rationale that the Samsung Galaxy Tab is “not as cool” as the Apple iPad, to reach a decision.
A case briefing on the Apple website read, “Samsung has chosen to slavishly copy Apple’s innovative technology, distinctive user interfaces, and elegant and distinctive product and packaging design, in violation of Apple’s valuable intellectual property rights. As alleged below in detail, Samsung has made its Galaxy phones and computer tablet work and look like Apple’s products through widespread patent and trade dress infringement.”
The Samsung Galaxy Tab was the last straw for Apple. The Samsung Galaxy S3 is predicted to trump Apple iPhone sales in the coming year.
Last month, Apple won a ruling that banned sales of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, under the claim that another company’s sales of a replicated product was unfair.
According to PCMag.com, though Samsung did not initially respond to the accusation, when it came to the July 9th ruling, Samsung said, “Samsung believes Apple’s excessive legal claims based on such a generic design right can harm not only the industry’s innovation as a whole, but also unduly limit consumer choice.”
Samsung requested that Apple be ordered to remove the statement, but the High Court said Apple is entitled to its opinion.
Apple plans to appeal the judge’s order.
