Apple has scored another point in its legal battle against Samsung, with an Australian judge decreeing that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 be temporarily banned from sale.
"I am satisfied that it is appropriate to grant an interim injunction," Justice Annabelle Bennett ruled, which means Samsung can't flog its 10.1-inch tablet down under until the patent battle is resolved. Apple claimed the Tab 10.1 infringed upon patents related to its touchscreen tech, the Telegraph reports.
The news comes after Apple rejected a settlement offer from Samsung that would have let Samsung start selling its slate in the land of the Rolfaroo.
In September, Samsung attacked Apple in the same country, claiming the Cupertino company had stepped all over its own patents.
The ongoing conflict between the two companies would appear to be going Apple's way -- the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is already banned from sale in Germany, having previously been banned across all of Europe.
Reuters reckons the biggest battle is yet to come -- very soon a similar courtroom battle between Apple and Samsung will kick off in the United States, and if the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is banned there, it could do some serious damage to Samsung.
Samsung, meanwhile, has launched legal action against Apple's spanking new iPhone 4S, filing complaints in Milan and Paris, but no kind of ruling appears to have materialised on that front yet.
What do you think about all these courtroom kerfuffles? Is Apple right to defend its intellectual property? Or do squabbles like these only hurt consumers who might actually want to buy the blasted things? And will Samsung and Apple ever find the perfect blend? Deliver your verdict in the comments section below, or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 8
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anonymous 13 October, 2011 09:39
I think the patent battles should go the way of the Jobs.
Simon Fong 13 October, 2011 12:00
Take a look at iOS5 - what's the biggest blatant Android rip-off? The notification screen that you swipe down to read - and they have the nerve of "protecting their patents" - come on now, people share methods / technology, however, this *****-for-tat is really showing just how ugly Apple are and just how desperate they are too...
anonymous 13 October, 2011 12:16
Justice Annabelle Bennett is clearly a monkey in robes.
anonymous 13 October, 2011 12:29
@Simon Fong Android does use Apple patents, pinch to zoom is an Apple patent. And pretty much most of android is a rip on iOS but Samsung took the p*ss with the Galaxy, even down to the box. Lets face it if it had no merritt the bans would not have cme into place. Samung look petty in counter suing Apple now.
anonymous 13 October, 2011 12:41
They don't look petty at all fanboi - just because Samsung and Google may or may not use Apple patents it does not mean Apple are not using either Samsung or Google patents without paying!!
Petty would be Samsung withholding production of components for Apple (but would be pretty effective nonetheless)
anonymous 13 October, 2011 19:28
I'd rather they ban Australians.
anonymous 14 October, 2011 02:49
this is nothing more than anti-competitive behaviour on Apple's part. I thought they where cooler than this :(
charlesharley 14 October, 2011 11:54
Love that tablet