Apple has been dealt yet another blow in its worldwide courtroom saga with Samsung, after the High Court in London ruled Samsung was not infringing Apple's iPad design because the Galaxy Tab 10 tablet wasn't as "cool" looking as the market leading iPad.
The legal battle between the two technology giants continues in numerous different countries, with lawsuits covering everything from Apple's claims that Samsung is slavishly copying its designs to Samsung's patent infringement claims against the Cupertino-based firm. This specific case centered around Apple's accusations that the South Korean electronics giant was infringing on the iPad's design with the Galaxy Tab 10 tablet.
Judge Colin Birss disagreed, however: "They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design," and "the overall impression produced is different. They are not as cool."
The Judge does not believe that "informed" consumers would confuse the two devices and his ruling means Apple cannot block the import or sale of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10 tablet on the grounds that it too closely resembles the iPad. The South Korean firm said in a statement that it welcomed the ruling, adding, "should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited."
Apple refused to give a statement for the UK case but repeated previous statements suggesting it was no coincidence Samsung's products looked like its iPad and iPhone devices. "This kind of blatant copying is wrong and, as we've said many times before, we need to protect Apple's intellectual properties when companies steal our ideas."
The US retailer has not confirmed whether it intends to appeal the High Court's latest decision, but has 21 days in which to do so.