Apple has succeeded in winning an European Union-wide ban on the sale of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, according to Reuters. The Duesseldorf Higher Court viewed the Galaxy Tab 7.7 in the same light as the previously banned Galaxy Tab 10.1 and have made a preliminary ruling that it infringes Apple’s design patents. However, the same court also upheld a ruling that the redesigned Galaxy Tab 10.1N is sufficiently different in design that it should be allowed to continue sales.
In relation to the Galaxy Tab 10.1N, Samsung conveyed an official statement to The Verge text on the matter:
“Samsung welcomes the court’s ruling which confirms our position that the GALAXY Tab 10.1N does not infringe Apple’s intellectual property and does not infringe laws against unfair competition,” reads the statement. “Should Apple continue to make legal claims based on such a generic design patent, design innovation and progress in the industry could be restricted.”
In the case of the Galaxy Tab 7.7, Samsung had this to say:
“Samsung is disappointed with the court’s ruling. We will continue to take all available measures, including legal action, to protect our intellectual property rights and defend against Apple’s claims to ensure our products remain available to consumers throughout the European Union.”
The findings by the German court are not final. As with a number of similar outcomes in both the US and Australia, the rulings are subject to a full trial. In the US, this process is expected to start as soon as the end of this month. The outcome of the full trials in various countries throughout the world will ultimately decide whether Samsung is liable to pay damages to Apple for its alleged patent infringements.
