Samsung has won a UK High Court case after a judge ruled that the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 8.9 and Tab 7.7 tablet computers did not infringe Apple’s iPad design. Both companies were taking legal action; Samsung was after a declaration that its Galaxy Tab devices didn’t infringe Apple designs, while Apple was claiming for infringement.
His Honour Judge Colin Birss QC concluded that the Samsung tablets do not infringe Apple’s registered design 000181607-0001. He comments that Apple’s iPad design bears a clear ‘family resemblance’ to previous tablet devices, as do the Samsung tablets. However, he also notes that the Samsung and Apple devices give very different impressions.
In his ruling he said “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. The overall impression produced is different.”
[Decision on bailii.org]