Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Apple Must Publish Notice Samsung Didn’t Copy IPad In U.K.


Apple Inc. (AAPL) was ordered by a judge to publish a notice on its U.K. website and in British newspapers alerting people to a ruling that Samsung Electronics Co. didn’t copy designs for the iPad.
The notice should outline the July 9 London court decision that Samsung’s Galaxy tablets don’t infringe Apple’s registered designs, Judge Colin Birss said today. It should be posted on Apple’s U.K. home page for six months and published in several newspapers and magazines to correct any impression the South Korea-based company was copying Apple’s product, Birss said.
Enlarge image
Apple Inc. was ordered to put notices in U.K. newspapers and on its website stating that Samsung didn't copy the iPad. Photographer: Lex Van Lieshout/epa/Corbis
The order means Apple will have to publish “an advertisement” for Samsung, Richard Hacon, a lawyer for Cupertino, California-based Apple, told the court. “No company likes to refer to a rival on its website.”
Apple is fighting patent lawsuits around the globe against competitors including Google Inc., HTC Corp. (2498) and Samsung as it competes for dominance of the smartphone and tablet computer markets. The firms have accused each other of copying designs and technology in their mobile devices. Legal battles about the similarity of Samsung and Apple tablets are being fought in Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S.
Public Statements
It's like the movie "Twins"
Birss said in his July 9 ruling that Samsung’s tablets were unlikely to be confused with the iPad because they are “not as cool.” He declined today to grant Samsung’s bid for an injunction blocking Apple from making public statements that the Galaxy infringed its design rights.
“They are entitled to their opinion,” he said.
Apple spokesman Alan Hely didn’t immediately respond to a phone call and e-mail requesting comment on the judge’s order.
“Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited,” Samsung said in a statement after the hearing.
“The war between these two companies seems to be escalating even further,” said Colin Fowler, an intellectual property lawyer at London-based Rouse. He said much of the publicity around the July 9 ruling focused on Birss’ comments about Samsung not being as cool.
“From a victory in court they were suddenly on the back foot,” Fowler said in a phone interview. “Getting this order fits in with the context of them trying to restore the balance.”
‘Commercial Harm’
Comments made by Apple after that ruling unfairly implied that Samsung had copied designs, Samsung’s lawyer Kathryn Pickard said at the hearing. That “caused real commercial harm.”
As well as Apple’s website, the company must pay for notices in the Financial Times, the Daily Mail , Guardian Mobile magazine, and T3, according to a draft copy of the order provided by Samsung’s lawyers.
Apple’s lawyer said the company would appeal the July 9 decision and Judge Birss granted the company permission to take its case to the court of appeal.
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I invite everyone to find the notice on Apple's site and take a screenshot. I know I will.

12 comments:

  1. http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/1717.html

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  2. The funniest thing about that is that Apple actually thinks that way. The Galaxy tablets being cool or not is a matter of opinion but they are better and that's a fact.

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    1. Why is it fact? Im not an apple fan, and in had a galaxy 10.1 and now i have an iPad3 and i think it is much better

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    2. Maybe you require less options and functionality. A simpler tablet like one I would recommend to a grandma perhaps. Good for you.

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    3. Yes now that I think about it, I guess most people actually prefer the iPad. It's just a few special needs geeks (who feel ever so techno-saavy, and have to tell the world about it) that seek out alternatives.

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    4. The ipad numbers are leveling off and they are less desirable because the ipad is old tech and old news. I like to watch ipad users drool over my rooted Transformer Prime. It becomes clear what tablet they "prefer".

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    5. You sound like the gamer geeks that brag about the superiority of their homebuilt PCs. You guys are a minority and always will be. Relatively few normal people are going to run a rooted Android tablet.

      Apple will always find plenty of eager customers who just want a nice user experience and don't want to mess with the tech.

      http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57482090-37/android-loses-ground-to-apple-in-second-quarter

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  3. Not really a gamer geek or even really technical, I'm more of a power-user with my tablet. I have a couple of PCs at home and I use the Xformer to run my business from the field. I found a tutorial online to do the root. It was easy and I love it. I didn't root it because I had to I just wanted to. The tablet worked perfectly right out of the box I just was curious to see what I could do and I learned something in the process. I've played a bit with the iPad 2 before and I honestly don't know what the big deal is. The user experience is truly better with Android. I'm not a complete hater or basher I'm just being honest.

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  4. The fact that you even knew what "rooting" was (let alone researching, downloading, and actually rooting your device) makes you more technical than 99% of potential tablet owners. I'm glad you enjoy your Android tablet. But don't kid yourself. Most people are not like you.

    Personally I have no interest in a tablet (iPad or otherwise). I was actually surprised that the iPad took off like it did. So yeah I don't know what the big deal is either. My guess is that the iPad's utter simplicity, as compared to "A Real Computer", was actually an attraction rather than a shortcoming.

    After getting off to a slow start, there are finally some Android tablets giving the iPad some competition (particularly by offering a smaller form factor at a lower price point). Nevertheless, the iPad, as the original easy-to-use tablet, will still be preferred by people who desire its larger screen, and value simplicity over features and versatility.

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  5. What I was talking about (the big deal) was the idea that people think the ipad is easier to use when it's not. Out of the box I found that the Xformer was easier to use. My 5 year old barely uses a computer and he was able to play games, draw and watch youtube with almost no instruction. The fact that there are buttons like "back" and "home" really makes it more intuitive. I think the ipad being the original easy-to-use tablet is fine but there seem to be more options out there that are better. I think the ipad had its time.

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  6. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

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  7. I think I would agree. I'm not an Apple hater but I think Android hasn't received a fair shake. Apple seems to only have better PR, marketing and advertising departments and they make their products "look" cool. Combine that with very low-level and simplistic features you get the iPad. Android actually has a phenomenal product that is easy to use, people just need to see it.

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