After securing an injunction in Australia, Apple and Samsung Electronics' legal tussle has extended to Europe, where Apple scored another preliminary injunction banning the Galaxy Tab 10.1 from nearly all European Union nations.
Foss Patents reported that Apple was granted a preliminary injunction by a German court. The ban includes all nations in the EU, except for the Netherlands. As with prior complaints, Apple claims that the Galaxy Tab is illegally copying technology used in the iPad.
Foss said that Apple is asking the district court in Dusseldorf, Germany, to impose a US$350,000 fine for each violation or imprisonment for Samsung management.
The battle is part of a wider conflict between Apple and the various companies supporting Android. With Google's mobile software gaining momentum, Apple is attempting to take the wind out of its sales with lawsuits against several of its key supporters.
The injunction sounds similar to efforts in Australia, where Apple has also sought to stop the sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Samsung had agreed to stop selling the US version, but insists that it will sell an Apple-approved version.
In the US, Apple and Samsung have several complaints and lawsuits filed against each other, both in the courts and at the US International Trade Commission.
While the various Android tablets have only seen mixed success in the market, Samsung has come the closest to rivalling the iPad. Its Galaxy Tab is thinner and lighter than Apple's tablet, and the price is comparable.
In a statement, Samsung described the court's decision as "disappointing":
Samsung is disappointed with the court's decision, and we intend to act immediately to defend our intellectual property rights through the ongoing legal proceedings in Germany, and will continue to actively defend these rights throughout the world.
The request for injunction was filed with no notice to Samsung, and the order was issued without any hearing or presentation of evidence from Samsung.
We will take all necessary measures to ensure Samsung's innovative mobile communications devices are available to customers in Europe and around the world.
This decision by the court in Germany in no way influences other legal proceedings filed with the courts in Europe and elsewhere.
That's a stark contrast to the statement issued by Samsung in Australia just last week, wherein it noted that it had reached an amicable agreement with Apple and the Federal Court of Australia not to sell its existing Galaxy Tab 10.1, and instead release a special version for the Australian market.
Apple wasn't immediately available to comment on the injunction.
Via CNET
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