Samsung Wins UK Tablet Victory Because "It's Not Cool"
As insulting as it may be, Samsung has won a small victory against Apple in the UK.
Despite several setbacks here in the States that led to at least one product ban, Samsung saw a small victory in its patents war with Apple on Monday.
Over in the UK, British High Court Judge Colin Birss ruled that Samsung's Galaxy Tab Android-powered tablets definitely belonged in the same family as Apple's iPad when viewed from the front. But when the Galaxy Tabs are compared to Apple's gadget from the side, it's "very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back."
In fact, the judge indicated that Samsung's tablets just aren't as "cool," and therefore no infringement is taking place. Was that comment insulting to Samsung? Probably. Will the company take what it can get at this point? Most definitely.
"They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool," Judge Birss said. "The overall impression produced is different."
Naturally Apple wasn't pleased with the verdict, as it still insists that Samsung is violating several of its patents. The company wouldn't offer a statement regarding Monday's ruling either, but provided its stance on Samsung instead.
"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," the company said. "This kind of blatant copying is wrong and, as we've said many times before, we need to protect Apple's intellectual properties when companies steal our ideas."
The two companies have been disputing over Android-related patents for many years across ten countries. Currently Samsung is banned from selling the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 here in the States, but on Friday the company was given the green light to continue the sales of its new Galaxy Nexus smartphone for the immediate future.
"Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited," Samsung said in a statement.
/dissapoint
Really? Apple didn't get any of its ideas from Microsofts Tablet in 2002?
Apple does not own the rights to Tablets, They've been here before the iPad.
Apple does not own the rights to Ultrabooks as well...........hopefully they dont start suing people after granted their newest "patent " on it
Having read into the new patent a little, it was actually a more specific than it is often given credit for.
If they cannot compete in price/consumer benefit, they should do something else.
By the way: the white rounded charging plugs look absolutely gay!
/dissapoint
Who else but apple would sue their supplier?
This part gets me: "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," the company said. "This kind of blatant copying is wrong and, as we've said many times before, we need to protect Apple's intellectual properties when companies steal our ideas."
If Apple honestly thinks that Android's UI is "alike" to iOS, then they don't even use their own devices. And TBH, the only real similarity I see between android and iOS are square tiles for shortcuts, and the pull-down tray that iOS blatantly stole from pre-existing android versions. Pot, meet kettle.
That's why you're not a judge.
Really? Apple didn't get any of its ideas from Microsofts Tablet in 2002?
But in terms of design, physical appearance, UI, etc, the Apple devices are quite different from oldschool slates. These Samsung tablets on the other hand, possess a lot of knockoff qualities. Again, I don't think they should be banned, but there's a bit of a difference in what they're doing vs what Apple did - at least in terms of physical device appearance and user interface.
Does anyone mistake a Ford Mustang for a Chevy Camero? They are both direct competitors, same features & stats, same target buyers. They can't and don't sue each other. But if someone made a car that looked like the Mustang (to mass market) Ford would sue them - and rightfully so.
yep...he's too smart to choose to be a judge.
How different can you make two similar things? Also, a little funny thing there - notice how the Prius and the Honda Insight look VERY similar? Yeah... it's not like they took a few ideas from the Prius or anything...
Sorry, I'm just so sick and tired of this patent game-playing...
Samsung might as well patent the 3.6in and above phones so apple would be stuck with their 3.5 (they are at 3.5in right? sorry, wouldnt know)