Friday, December 2, 2011

US judge rejects Apple bid to halt Galaxy sales

Apple has managed to convince a judge to block the U.S., Samsung Electronics is selling some of the Galaxy smartphones and tablets in the U.S. market, leaving the maker of the iPhone and the iPad a decisive influence on global patent battle between the two companies.

Council Regulation released late on Friday, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh San Jose, California, Apple denied the request for preliminary injunction against Samsung.

The two companies engaged in bruising legal battle, which includes more than 20 cases in 10 countries as they jostle for the top smartphone and tablet markets.

Previously on Friday, the court extended the stay in Australia from the sale of Samsung's latest Galaxy tablet in the country for at least a week since Apple decided to complaints that the ban was ended.

Apple iPad. AFP

Apple sued Samsung in the U.S. in April, said the South Korean company's Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets "slavishly" copy of the iPhone and the iPad.

But on Friday rejected Apple's offer of Koh prohibit the sale of three smartphone models, as well as the Samsung Tab 10.1.

"It is not clear that the injunction is charged with Samsung devices would prevent Apple from being irreparably damaged," Koh wrote.

Apple spokeswoman Kristin HUGUET Friday of the previous applications for Apple, saying that Samsung is "blatant copying is wrong." Samsung representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Apple could still get a general submission. But it can not beat the quick sale of Galaxy to stay in the U.S. comes as the stakes rise to one of the fastest growing consumer electronics markets.

Under Pressure

Global tablet sales are expected to explode to more than 50 million for 2011. Apple, which has sold over 30 million iPads so far is expected to continue to dominate the market in the near future.

Tim Cook, Apple's new CEO is under pressure to show he can fill the large shoes of his predecessor, the late Silicon Valley titan Steve Jobs. But in its first quarter results unveiled a permanent CEO, Apple stunned Wall Street, missing expectations for the first time in years.

Analysts said the customers off waiting to buy iPhones in the September quarter, October to launch the latest iPhone 4S.

But the tablets turned out to be a bright spot. The company moved to 11120000 units per quarter, despite the efforts of the various manufacturers, including Samsung, tablet to capture a slice of the market.

Now Amazon.com has also entered the fray with Kindle Fire tablet, but Samsung's Galaxy line-up is widely regarded as the nearest competitor in terms of design capability and the iPad.

Recognizing the competitive Cook said it was "reasonable to say" none of Apple's rivals have got any traction, and he hoped to be higher than the tablet PC market in the long run.

In his question, Koh wrote that some of smartphones, "Apple has created the success of the Order of the defendants."

Koh added that Apple is likely to prove a breach of the Samsung tablet patents. However, Apple failed to prove that it was probably more than the Samsung challenges the validity of the patent, Koh wrote.

Apple has to show both infringement and validity of the submission will succeed.

If the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California is Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. et al, 11-1846.