A German court has ruled that Apple has not infringed Samsung’s patents, “but has not said why,” according to “ZDNet” (http://macte.ch/6L8NQ). Samsung hasn’t said whether it will appeal the ruling, the article adds.
“We are disappointed that the court did not share our views regarding the infringement by Apple of this specific patent in Germany,” Samsung said in a written statement.
In related news, Apple filed another suit in Germany this week, seeking to ban sales of Samsung’s smartphone models, including the Galaxy S Plus and the S II, according to “Bloomberg” (http://macte.ch/ckS5ml).
The suit targeting 10 smartphones was filed in the Dusseldorf Regional Court and is based on Apple design rights Apple in Europe, court spokesman Peter Schuetz said via phone today. Apple also started a separate suit against five Samsung tablet computer models related to a September ruling banning the Galaxy 10.1, he said.
Earlier this month, in Italy, Judge Marina Tavassi of the Tribunale di Milano — the Milan-based Italian first-instance court for patent cases — rejected a Samsung request for a preliminary injunction against the sale of the iPhone 4S in Italy, reported “FOSS Patents” (http://macte.ch/BiQJE).
Samsung has sought to ban the iPhone 4S in France and Italy for patent infringement. The company filed motions with courts in Paris and Milan seeking the ban, each citing two patent infringements on wireless telecommunications technology.
Samsung claims the iPhone and iPad that use 3G technology infringe Samsung patents. Meanwhile, in September Apple said in a Hague court hearing that Samsung is holding them “hostage” by asking for 2.4% on each 3G chip used in the iPad and iPhone. Samsung is deliberately misusing both the royalty rate and the responsibility for its payment to try and oppose its lawsuit, says Apple.
