Samsung was dealt a blow on Friday when a court in Germany upheld an injunction blocking the sale of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in the country. Apple had requested the sales ban as part of its patent infringement suit against Samsung over allegations that the company stole the look and feel of the iPad and iPhone for its Android-based mobile devices.
The German court ruled that “informed customers” could tell that Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet was designed to look very much like the iPad, and that the company could’ve chosen another design for the device, according to the Financial Times.
German court upholds sales ban on Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet
“The court is of the opinion that Apple’s minimalist design is not the only technical solution to make a tablet computer,” commented Judge Johanna Brückner-Hofmann. “Other designs are possible.”
Samsung, however, disagrees with the ruling and said it’s tablet design was generic. “We are disappointed with this ruling and believe it severely limits consumer choice in Germany,” the company said.
Apple and Samsung have been locked in a legal battle over patent infringement claims for several months. Both companies have alleged that the other’s mobile devices use patented technologies without proper licensing, and have filed lawsuits against each other in the U.S. and other countries.
The iPad and iPhone makes has been awarded a temporary injunction through a Dutch court blocking the sale of some Galaxy devices in the European Union, and has agreed to postpone sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in Australia until the end of September.
Apple has requested an injunction in the United States, too, and most recently in Japan.
Samsung plans to appeal the German court ruling.