In the ongoing struggle between Apple and Samsung over the Galaxy Tab tablet computer, Apple seems to have taken the lead for now. The Regional Court of Dusseldorf has sided with the iPad maker in granting a preliminary injunction over the sale and marketing of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in all European Union member states, save the Netherlands. This is the second injunction that Apple has won against the Tab, which was indefinitely blocked from launching in Australia.
The block against Samsung stems from Apple’s claim that the South Korean company copied aspects of their highly successful iPad series of tablets. The UK telegraph quotes an unnamed Apple spokesperson as saying:
It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging. This kind of blatant copying is wrong, and we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.
Samsung will almost certainly appeal the injunction, but any appeal cannot be heard for at least four weeks. In the meantime, iPads will continue to be on the market while the Tab will be locked away. Placing aside claims of intellectual property infringement, Apple has just knocked out a major competitor across the better part of an entire continent for a month. Regardless of how this plays out, it’s a big victory for Apple.
(UK Guardian via Engadget, image via mac morrison)
