Samsung Defeats Apple Court Ban, Company Can Sell Future Devices in US
Apple failed in its bid to block the future sales of Samsung mobile products in the United States.
The Apple iPhone and iPad company aimed to secure a preliminary injunction against the Korean firm's products based on patent infringements. To gain the U.S. court action, Apple had to prove that Samsung continuing to sell its products would harm its sales. Samsung's mobile devices were said to be infringing on Apple's patents.
A U.S. court ultimately ruled in favor of Samsung.
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"At this point in the proceedings, although Apple has established a likelihood of success on the merits at trial, there remain close questions regarding the infringement of the accused devices, and Samsung has raised substantial questions regarding the validity of the D’087 patent," stated the court. "Moreover, Apple has not yet established a likelihood of irreparable harm, and the balance of the equities weigh in favor of Samsung."
In July of next year, Apple still has a chance to win its overall case against Samsung. They must be able to prove that both the validity of its patents and Samsung’s infringement are factual.
Recently, Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 was made eligible for sale in Australia after a court overruled Apple's lawsuit. Apple's allegations claimed that Samsung's tablet mimicked some aspects of the iPad and iPhone.
The official ruling from an Australian court said the evidence presented failed to show the Galaxy tablet infringed on Apple's touchscreen patent. The court also said Apple would be unlikely to win if the case went to a trial. The earlier decision by the lower-court judge in Apple's favor was described as "clearly wrong." Apple is currently appealing the decision.
Samsung was pleased with the court's ruling. "We believe the ruling clearly affirms that Apple's legal claims lack merit," said the company.
Apple and Samsung began their legal woes last April. Several more lawsuits occurred in 10 countries, along with courts in several nations. Many of these courts ruled in Apple's favor.
In October, Australian Federal Court Justice Annabelle Bennett granted a temporary injunction against sales of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1. Samsung appealed the decision.
Tim Renowden, an analyst at researcher Ovum Plc, spoke to Bloomberg about the decision: “The removal of the injunction is a win for consumer choice in the Australian tablet market. Samsung is not out of the Australian scrub yet,” said Renowden.
This win for Samsung will be sure to drive sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 this holiday season. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 should now be available for sale in Australia.
