SYDNEY (AP) — An Australian court on Thursday temporarily banned Samsung from selling its new Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer in the country, after rival technology giant Apple accused the company of copying features from its popular iPad tablet.
Federal Court Justice Annabelle Bennett granted a temporary injunction against sales of Samsung's new tablet in Australia. The decision prevents Samsung from selling the device in Australia in its current form until a further court order, or until a pending patent lawsuit between the warring technology giants is resolved.
The ruling is a huge blow for Samsung, which had hoped to launch the new product in time for Christmas sales.
The two companies have been embroiled in an international legal battle over their rival tablets. In April, Cupertino, California-based Apple Inc. sued Samsung in the United States, alleging the product design, user interface and packaging of Samsung's Galaxy devices "slavishly copy" the iPhone and iPad.
Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co. fought back with lawsuits of its own, accusing Apple of patent infringement of its wireless telecommunications technology. The battle spread to 10 countries, according to Samsung, including South Korea, Germany and the Netherlands.
Apple filed the Australian lawsuit in July, accusing Samsung of copying its touch screen technology. In her ruling Thursday, Bennett said she was granting the temporary injunction in part because she felt Apple had a sufficient likelihood of winning the trial against Samsung.
The judge's full orders will not be published until Friday. It was not immediately clear whether Samsung could — or would — attempt to sell a variation of the device that removed the features Apple objected to in the Australian lawsuit.
"We are disappointed with this ruling and Samsung will be seeking legal advice on its options," Samsung said in a statement. "Samsung will continue its legal proceeding against Apple's claim in order to ensure our innovative products remain available to consumers."
Samsung, which filed its Australian countersuit in September, said it remained confident it could prove Apple violated its wireless technology patents.
"We will continue to legally assert our intellectual property rights against those who violate Samsung's patents and free ride on our technology," the company said in a statement.
An attorney for Apple declined to comment after the hearing.
Federal Court Justice Annabelle Bennett granted a temporary injunction against sales of Samsung's new tablet in Australia. The decision prevents Samsung from selling the device in Australia in its current form until a further court order, or until a pending patent lawsuit between the warring technology giants is resolved.
The ruling is a huge blow for Samsung, which had hoped to launch the new product in time for Christmas sales.
The two companies have been embroiled in an international legal battle over their rival tablets. In April, Cupertino, California-based Apple Inc. sued Samsung in the United States, alleging the product design, user interface and packaging of Samsung's Galaxy devices "slavishly copy" the iPhone and iPad.
Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co. fought back with lawsuits of its own, accusing Apple of patent infringement of its wireless telecommunications technology. The battle spread to 10 countries, according to Samsung, including South Korea, Germany and the Netherlands.
Apple filed the Australian lawsuit in July, accusing Samsung of copying its touch screen technology. In her ruling Thursday, Bennett said she was granting the temporary injunction in part because she felt Apple had a sufficient likelihood of winning the trial against Samsung.
The judge's full orders will not be published until Friday. It was not immediately clear whether Samsung could — or would — attempt to sell a variation of the device that removed the features Apple objected to in the Australian lawsuit.
"We are disappointed with this ruling and Samsung will be seeking legal advice on its options," Samsung said in a statement. "Samsung will continue its legal proceeding against Apple's claim in order to ensure our innovative products remain available to consumers."
Samsung, which filed its Australian countersuit in September, said it remained confident it could prove Apple violated its wireless technology patents.
"We will continue to legally assert our intellectual property rights against those who violate Samsung's patents and free ride on our technology," the company said in a statement.
An attorney for Apple declined to comment after the hearing.
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