Samsung have pulled their Galaxy Tab 7.7 out of the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin as Apple have won an injunction which blocks sales and marketing of the product.
A Dusseldorf court granted Apple the injunction, after Apple claimed that Samsung were copying their device technology. Apple winning this second injunction doesn't bode well for Samsung who were experiencing strong sales in the tablet sector.
James Chung, a spokesman for Samsung spoke to the Hindustantimes and said that Samsung respects the courts decision, adding that the ruling is now severely limiting consumer choice in Germany. Samsung are going to pursue options to lift the ban, including further legal action to defend their intellectual property rights, according to Chung.
The battle is raging between Samsung and Apple, across three continents. Apple have already won a temporary sales ban on the larger brother – the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in 26 of the 27 European Union member countries.
Strategy Analytics have predicted that this block on sales could already have cost Samsung sales of up to 500,000 units.
Samsung's decision to remove the new 7.7 model from IFA will be seen as a blow to the company as it is one of the key events to impress European customers.
Kitguru says: Will Samsung fight back?