Samsung Says Germany Rejects Apple's Sales-Ban Bid

Feb. 3, 2012
The two technology giants are engaged in a legal battle involving dozens of cases worldwide as they struggle for leadership in the hugely lucrative smartphone and tablet-computer market.

South Korea's Samsung Electronics on Thursday said a German court rejected Apple's bid to ban sales of its tablet computers and new smartphones, the latest chapter in a global legal battle between the rivals.

Samsung said Munich Regional Court on Wednesday quashed Apple's request to impose a preliminary ban on sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1N and Nexus smartphone. Apple claimed Samsung infringed on its patent rights, but the court disagreed, saying the technology has been widely used in the mobile market, according to Samsung.

The rivals have been locked in a series of lawsuits in Germany.

Last week, the Mannheim Regional Court ruled against Samsung, saying Apple had not violated one of its technical patents, while a Dusseldorf court is to rule next week on Apple's request to ban sales of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1N.

The two technology giants are engaged in a legal battle involving dozens of cases worldwide as they struggle for leadership in the hugely lucrative smartphone and tablet-computer market.

Apple began the process in April last year, accusing Samsung of "slavishly" copying its iPhone and iPad designs. Samsung has focused its own lawsuits on technology patents rather than design.

The South Korean giant received two legal boosts in December.

A court in San Jose, Calif., denied Apple's request for a preliminary injunction that would have banned the sale of three Samsung smartphones and a tablet computer.

Australia's High Court cleared the way for Samsung to sell its Galaxy 10.1 tablet in the country in time for Christmas, dismissing Apple's bid to have a ban extended.

But European regulators this week opened an antitrust probe against Samsung to determine whether it has distorted competition in European mobile device markets.

The European Commission said it would investigate whether Samsung went too far last year when it sought injunctions against competitors in various EU national courts, alleging infringements of Samsung's patent rights.

Dow Jones Newswires contributed to this report.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!