Samsung Electronics Co said it would delay the launch in Australia of its latest Galaxy tablet. They will be on hold until after a court ruling in September in its global patent war with Apple.
Samsung and Apple are trapped in their battle over smartphones and tablets patents since April as Apple seeks to rein in the growth of Google’s Android phones by taking directly aim at the biggest Android vendor, Samsung.After Apple won an injunction in a Dutch court last week and banned three of Samsung’s smartphone models in some European countries, the delay in Australia is just the latest setback for Samsung.A court in Germany also stoped the sales of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet in the country until September 9 when it delivers its ruling after Apple’s request.Samsung has agreed to delay the launch of Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia pending the court’s decision in the week of September 26 and said it will lodge the cross claim through the Australian court in the coming days.
“Today, Samsung informed the Federal Court of Australia it intends to file a cross claim against Apple Australia and Apple Inc regarding the invalidity of the patents previously asserted by Apple and also a cross claim against Apple regarding violation of patents held by Samsung by selling its iPhones and iPads,” Samsung said in a statement.
Samsung had an agreement with Apple at an earlier court hearing and first delayed the launch of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 earlier this month.
Apple, which has got to the top of the phone market with its iPhone, has argued that Samsung had infringed on its patents and the Galaxy line of products “slavishly” copied its design, look and feel. It is fighting legal battles in the United States as well as Europe, South Korea and Australia. Samsung has counter-sued, arguing Apple infringed its wireless patents.
For Samsung, from their 2nd place in the global tablet market, is crucial to launch the new Galaxy tablet to close the gap with Apple and achieve its target of raising tablet sales by more than five folds this year.
