Samsung Pulls Galaxy Tab From Berlin Show; Apple Wins Injunction
Samsung Electronics Co. pulled its latest Galaxy tablet from a Berlin trade show after a German court approved Apple Inc.’s request for an injunction.
The South Korea-based electronic powerhouse said Sunday that it will not continue to show its Galaxy Tab 7.7 at the IFA, the world’s largest trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances, in Berlin, reported South Korean newspaper Yonhap News Agency. Samsung had unveiled its new Galaxy Tab for the first time at the IFA.
Samsung’s action was based on a Dusseldorf court’s approval Friday of Apple’s request to bar sales of the Galaxy tablet in Germany.
The temporary injunction is a big setback for Samsung, which is engrossed in a multi-country legal battle with Apple over patents. Apple claims that Samsung’s Galaxy products copy its iPad and iPhone.
The two global tech giants have been embroiled in legal disputes since April when Apple filed a lawsuit against Samsung accusing its Galaxy smartphone of infringing on iPhone patents.
In Australia, Samsung came to an agreement with Apple to halt sales of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in early August. Also last month, Apple was granted a preliminary injunction banning sales of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab across Europe, but in mid-August the ban was lifted in all European countries except Germany.
A final ruling regarding Samsung’s new model is expected Friday, according to The Associated Press.
Apple is also fighting Samsung on its own turf, with a patent infringement lawsuit hearing scheduled for July 2012 in the United States.
The IFA trade show opened on Friday and will run until Sept. 7.
