Apple will be able to continue selling its iPhone 4S in Australia for at least four more months without being hindered by a court injunction, according to “AustralianIT” (http://macte.ch/U7Dhg). Samsung has agreed to alter its application for a temporary injunction banning the iPhone 4S from sale there to an expedited application for a final injunction, the article adds.
Last week Australia Federal Court Justice Annabelle Bennett ruled that Apple must provide Samsung with its contracts with Australian mobile-phone carriers as Samsung demanded in a patent dispute with the iPhone maker. Apple needs to produce agreements it has with Vodafone Group Plc, SingTel Optus and Telstra. Should Apple fail to agree on an assertion in Samsung’s patent lawsuit that the carriers are contractually obliged to subsidize iPhone sales, she ordered.
Samsung sued Apple in Australia, claiming the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPad 2 infringe its patents and is seeking a ban on the sale of the devices in the country. Bennett ruled the contracts with the phone operators are relevant to Samsung’s case. Apple said it would oppose the disclosure, the article adds.
— Dennis Sellers
