So hang on. Just two days before Apple and Samsung are due to sit down and start settlement talks over their ridiculous patent wars, Apple has tried to ban the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the US. Poor form.
The Californian company filed for a preliminary injunction against the Samsung device, Foss patents reports.
Samsung has already got around these bans by introducing the Galaxy Tab 10.1N (pictured, with the original) in Germany, so it could roll out that device onto the shelves, court permitting of course.
If Apple's motion is successful, as looks likely, there will be bans in America against all three of the leading makers of Android devices. The ITC just ordered a US import ban against Motorola's Android devices, due to an infringement of a Microsoft patent, and some HTC devices were delayed for infringing Apple's copyright in December. As if the Ice Cream Sandwich rollout headaches weren't enough.
On Monday, Apple and Samsung are due to sit down for a tête-à-tête to thrash out these ongoing patent disputes. The two have been ping-ponging lawsuits at each other for over a year now, alleging each other is infringing the other's copyright. It's hoped this sit-down will bring about an end to the squabbles. Though if this latest is anything to go by, that looks like a pipe dream.
Steve Jobs vowed "thermonuclear war" against Android, which he claimed was a stolen product. When Tim Cook took over at Apple's helm, he said he wanted to resolve peacefully the issue with Android, though the lawsuits have continued.
Samsung tweaked the Galaxy Tab after a similar case in Germany, and re-released it as the Galaxy Tab 10.1N. We'll have to wait and see if it does the same in the US.
What do you make of all this? Shouldn't they just put their differences behind them, seeing as Samsung provides parts for the iPhone? Or are they right to aggressively protect their designs? Let me know in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters 
Comments 3
Add your comment
anonymous 19 May, 2012 15:55
I will never buy another Apple product anyway, because they don't have what I want and they fix their prices so they cannot go on sale. I want a product that allows me to upgrade without having to pay some high fee to someone overseas. I want an expanable memory capability and an adaptable up-grade path without having to worry about disposing of a product with each minor enhancement they add to the product. I went through that with the Intell/AMD desktops. I got stuck with an Ipod 3 about a month before the forth version came out. I had to pay full price for an obsolete machine. I am tired of supporting Apple research; just come out with a product that has upgradable capabilities and maybe I will consider it.
anonymous 19 May, 2012 17:44
Apple need to put more of their energy into producing innovative functionality as oppose to kicking the competition into the legal long grass. This is a big compliment from apple to Samsung as it shows that the only way they can compete is to try and hamper the competition rather than better them in design and functionality.
Poor show apple but sadly this is what I have come to expect of you.
anonymous 21 May, 2012 11:29
Patent infringements on technology such as software architecture are one thing, trying to lay claim to the platonic solids is another.