Samsung Electronics have won a legal ruling in the UK after the judge said their Galaxy Tablets aren't ‘cool' enough to be confused with the Apple iPad.
Judge Colin Birss said yesterday that the design for the three Galaxy tablets don't infringe on Apple's registered design. He highlighted that consumers are not likely to mix up the tablet computers on appearance or design.
Birss said that the Galaxy tablets “o not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool.”
While Samsung will be happy with the verdict the statement is certainly a public kick in the teeth for the Far East manufacturer. Samsung said the judgement strengthens their position that the Galaxy does not infringe on Apple's design rights.
Samsung issued an email which read “Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited.”
Apple are fighting Samsung in various countries against HTC and Samsung as they fight for market share and ownership of features. The firms are accusing each other of stealing ideas and technology. Apple and Samsung hold more than 50 percent of smartphone sales worldwide between them, according to IDC.
Apple spokesman Alan Hely said “It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad. This kind of blatant copying is wrong and, as we’ve said many times before, we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property.”
Kitguru says: A good verdict for Samsung, but the design team will be crying into their cornflakes this morning.
Again the only winners are the lawyers. The losers again are the customers. Whilst these idiots play stupid games and block one or others products it is the customers who will lose out by not having the choice. Let the real battles take place in the shops. Let the customers decide by buying what they want at a price they can afford.