Apple’s filing in the UK to ban sales of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab on the lines of design infringement was rejected in the court due to weird reasons. Apple could successfully get the sales of Galaxy Tab to be stopped in the US where the US court felt that Samsung indeed infringed upon Apple’s design patents. Guess it is a whole different story in the UK.
The reason attributed to rule the case in favor of Samsung Galaxy Tab might seem a bit weird, it was stated that Apple iPad looks cooler than Samsung Tab! The judge also stated that Apple iPad is a bit thinner and has clear engravings on the back of it thus not leading to any sort of confusion between iPad and Galaxy Tab.
Samsung earlier stated that if Apple proceeded in a similar fashion in various countries it will seriously hurt innovation and competition leading to much restricted choices for consumers. This is in a way true but competing with a product should not be done by infringing upon patents!
Apple has sought court orders in the US, Germany, Netherlands and elsewhere seeking to block Samsung from selling its tablets. Samsung has been ordered to stop selling its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the U.S. until a patent-infringement trial is held. Apple was successful at banning the sales of Galaxy Tab in Australia as well which was later turned down against Apple.