Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Sale In U.S. Banned

For long Apple has been fighting Samsung in courts all around the world. Samsung has at times counter-sued the Cupertino California based company. Both companies claim that the other infringes on their various design, software and functionality based patents. Ultimately it is up to the courts to decide if infringement of any sort has taken place. Apple has struck gold in one such lawsuit. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales in the U.S.A have been banned as Apple has emerged victorious in the lawsuit it filed against Samsung’s flagship Android powered tablet.

Almost a year ago Apple filed a lawsuit against Samsung alleging that the Korean manufacturer violated several design patents of Apple in it’s Galaxy lineup of smartphones and tablets. This court battle was taken in to courts outside of the U.S.A as well. Samsung has been fighting Apple tooth and nail in these lawsuits and has been able to dodge injunctions at several occasions. However now the inevitable has happened.

US District Court Judge Lucy Koh has granted Apple with a preliminary injunction. This injunction means that Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be taken off the shelves in U.S.A until Samsung is able to win an appeal against this very injunction. Samsung argues that this injunction would harm their relationships with wireless carriers and distributors that sell the Galaxy Tab 10.1. On the other hand to compensate for Samsung’s losses, if it is able to prove that Apple’s design patent is invalid, Apple has agreed to pay $2.6 million. I’m quite sure both sides have spent much more on litigation costs.

As mentioned before, Samsung is fighting tooth and nail with Apple. It has already filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals. Surely there are going to be a lot of developments in this case and there exists a possibility that this preliminary injunction may be scrapped for good. Apple might win outright and have Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales blocked in the U.S.A for good. Germany has placed a permanent ban, as a result of an Apple lawsuit. Temporary bans exists in Australia and the European Union.

The fact remains though that both of these companies will always be at each others throats. Samsung clinched the title of the world’s biggest smartphone vendor from Apple earlier this year. Apple hopes to take it back when it launches the next generation iPhone later this year. Samsung Galaxy S III is already out and is receiving good reviews. Both these companies are engrossed in a vicious waltz. Let’s see who comes out on top.