The court of justice in The Hague Tuesday in an appeal determined that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sold in the Netherlands may continue to be. Apple had requested a ban in the Netherlands, but the judge was not there.
Apple believes that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 of Samsung is too similar to Apple’s own tablet iPad, but the court believes that there are enough differences, according to the ruling. This empowers the court in a previous judgement of October, which also revealed that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 just sold should continue to be.
The iPad-maker relied, inter alia, on the design right of the iPad, but Samsung contributed successfully to that there are big differences between the two tablets, in the statement. Because Apple has lost, it will be the cost of the trials, a total of almost 200,000 euros, will have to pay.
In other countries, think the judges, there not always so: the tablet is in Germany, for example, is prohibited because of the alleged similarities. Therefore, Samsung in Germany, Galaxy Tab 10.1 N, a version with the same specifications, but with a slightly modified design. That is also already on sale in the Netherlands. Sometime in the coming months is likely to be of a new generation of Samsung’s tablet line on the market. It is unclear whether that same design will have.
Apple and Samsung have been since april of last year embroiled in a legal battle in several dozen countries. Lawsuits walk except in the Netherlands and Germany among others in the United States, South Korea and Australia. Business is what Apple is concerned especially about the similarities in design and interface of Samsung’s smartphones and tablets, while Samsung, Apple to the ears stores with patents in the area of 3g.
