U.S. court blocks sales of Samsung’s flagship tablet PC


Samsung Electronics said Wednesday that it will take legal action against a U.S. court’s decision to immediately block the U.S. sales of the firm’s flagship tablet PC Galaxy Tab 10.1, taking Apple’s side on patent infringement.

“We regret the fact that our statement wasn’t accepted in this ruling but given that we already have a diverse product lineup, we’re confident that it will have a limited impact in our U.S. sales,” a Samsung spokesperson said. “Apple’s sales ban request on ‘generic design’ is believed to be a measure that could restrict industrial innovation and development and we will take necessary legal procedures involving this ruling.”

On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that Apple won a court order immediately blocking the U.S. sales of Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet PC while the companies litigate Apple’s patent infringement claims, Bloomberg reported following the court hearing in San Jose.

The immediate sales ban issued on Wednesday comes after U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh rejected a similar request in December.

Apple’s request, part of a broader patent dispute over smartphones and tablets, was based on an appeals court finding that it will probably win its patent-infringement claim relating to the Galaxy Tab 10, according to Bloomberg.

“In this case, although Samsung will necessarily be harmed by being forced to withdraw its product from the market before the merits can be determined after a full trial, the harm faced by Apple absent an injunction on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is greater,” Koh said during the ruling.

She also said that the public interest favors the enforcement of patent rights, adding that “although Samsung has a right to compete, it does not have a right to compete unfairly, by flooding the market with infringing products.”

Koh also required Apple to post a $2.6 million bond to cover potential damages payment to Samsung if Apple loses the case. A trial is scheduled for July 30.

By Cho Ji-hyun and news reports 
(sharon@heraldcorp.com)