Apple has complied with a U.K. Judge's requirement that it post a statement on its website informing customers that Samsung isn't copying the iPad design. The requirement was part of the Judge's ruling in the patent infringement fight between the two companies, and while in compliance, Apple used the opportunity to point out that other courts say Samsung actually is stealing its designs.
Apple complies with court order, but still manages to get a dig on Samsung
Apple had accused Samsung of copying the iPad design for its own Galaxy tablet lineup, although Judge Colin Birss wasn't swayed by the Cupertino company's argument. Instead, he ruled that Samsung isn't infringing on Apple's design patents and said Samsung's designs "do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool."
As part of his ruling, he ordered Apple to post a statement on its website as well as in several print publications saying Samsung isn't copying its designs. Apple lost its appeal, so the notice went live on Apple's website on Friday.
While the statement complies with the Judge's order, it isn't likely to make Samsung happy because it also points out that other courts have ruled that the Galaxy lineup does copy the iPad design.
Apple's statement in full:
On 9th July 2012 the High Court of Justice of England and Wales ruled that Samsung Electronic (UK) Limited’s Galaxy Tablet Computer, namely the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 do not infringe Apple’s registered design No. 0000181607-0001. A copy of the full judgment of the High court is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Patents/2012/1882.html.In the ruling, the judge made several important points comparing the designs of the Apple and Samsung products:
"The extreme simplicity of the Apple design is striking. Overall it has undecorated flat surfaces with a plate of glass on the front all the way out to a very thin rim and a blank back. There is a crisp edge around the rim and a combination of curves, both at the corners and the sides. The design looks like an object the informed user would want to pick up and hold. It is an understated, smooth and simple product. It is a cool design."
"The informed user's overall impression of each of the Samsung Galaxy Tablets is the following. From the front they belong to the family which includes the Apple design; but the Samsung products are very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back. They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool."
That Judgment has effect throughout the European Union and was upheld by the Court of Appeal on 18 October 2012. A copy of the Court of Appeal’s judgment is available on the following link www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2012/1339.html. There is no injunction in respect of the registered design in force anywhere in Europe.
However, in a case tried in Germany regarding the same patent, the court found that Samsung engaged in unfair competition by copying the iPad design. A U.S. jury also found Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple's design and utility patents, awarding over one billion U.S. dollars in damages to Apple Inc. So while the U.K. court did not find Samsung guilty of infringement, other courts have recognized that in the course of creating its Galaxy tablet, Samsung willfully copied Apple's far more popular iPad.