The legal dispute between Apple and Samsung has taken a turn for the absurd after a judge ordered Apple to issue a notice on its website that basically says Samsung did not copy the iPad or any aspect of it when the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android tablet was designed.
The unusual ruling was promulgated at a British court, which rejected an attempt by Apple to have the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 from being sold in the country because of Apple’s claim that Samsung has infringed on the former’s patents that related to its own iPad tablet.
Judge Colin Birss was the presiding judge and the one who ruled that people won’t have trouble distinguishing between Apple’s iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. On first look, the decision was a runaway victory for Samsung. Imagine compelling Apple to issue that kind of a notice on its own website. But, actually, the decision was quite backhanded. Judge Birss said in his decision that people won’t find difficulty in distinguishing between the two products because, as the judge said, the Galaxy Tab is “not as cool” as the iPad. Ouch.
Aside from the notice being placed on Apple’s website, the court has also asked Apple to issue the same notice in a number of national newspapers in the UK. The newspaper notice will carry the same information as the internet notice. The decision will be a bitter pill to swallow for Apple, especially since the decision also stated that the internet notice on Apple’s website should remain for six months. That’s basically free Samsung advertising placed right smack dab on Apple’s website.
Expect Apple to appeal this decision.
One thought on “UK Court Decision Orders Apple to Post Ads That Samsung Did Not Copy The iPad”
Instead of fighting the ruling, Apple should run with it and obey the letter of the law while ignoring the intent. The ads could show a picture of an iPad and a Samsung-whatever. The caption could say “As Samsung did NOT copy the Apple iPad.” Let the readers draw their own conclusions. Or use that judge’s own conclusion, that the Samsung product isn’t a copy since it’s not as “cool” as the Apple iPad.