Apple Asks Court to Reconsider Samsung Galaxy Injunction

Apple vs. Samsung
Apple asked a U.S. Appeals Court today to reconsider an earlier decision and halt sales of some Samsung products that it feels copy Apple designs too liberally. The request is in response to a December ruling that allowed some Samsung products, including Galaxy tablets, to remain on the market while patent litigation between the two companies is underway.

The trial is scheduled for July 30 in San Francisco, but today’s appeal took place in Washington. The devices in question include the Galaxy S 4G, Infuse 4G, and Droid Charge smartphones as well as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet.

According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Apple’s lawyer, Michael Jacobs of Morrison & Foerster, stated, “Apple is widely regarded as an innovator of beautiful designs. What we’re asking Samsung to do is stop copying. There are other beautiful designs out there.”

Samsung on the other hand had a different take. “There is no clear error that would warrant reversing the judge’s decision, especially since we’re on a July trial schedule,” said Kathleen Sullivan, Samsung’s lawyer from the Quinn Emanuel firm.

The judges themselves asked questions on whether it was appropriate to issue a sales injunction for a product when only one feature is in violation. In the initial decision on Dec 2, the court argued that “it is not clear that an injunction on Samsung’s accused devices would prevent Apple from being irreparably harmed.”

While the trial may begin in July, it will be months later when a ruling is finally issued. Therefore Apple argued that halting the sales immediately is still important.

The battle with Samsung is a big part of Apple’s battle with Android devices that Apple argues have copied patented features. There are currently 30 lawsuits filed in ten countries between Apple and Samsung.