Apple has been ordered by a judge to publish a notice on its U.K. website and Financial Times, the Daily Mail, Guardian Mobile magazine, and T3 informing the public of a ruling that Samsung Electronics didn’t copy designs for the iPad. The notice should outline the July 9 London court decision that Samsung’s Galaxy tablets don’t infringe Apple’s registered designs, ruled Judge Colin Birss.
The July 9 ruling by Judge Birss said in his that Samsung’s tablets were unlikely to be confused with the iPad because they are “not as cool.” He declined to grant Samsung’s injunction blocking Apple from making public statements that the Galaxy infringed its design rights.
This in means Apple will have to advertise for Samsung, asserts Apple lawyer Richard Hacon. “No company likes to refer to a rival on its website,” he noted.
“They are entitled to their opinion,” Hacon said, noting that company would appeal the July 9 decision and Judge Birss granted the company permission to take its case to the court of appeal.
Colin Fowler, an intellectual property lawyer at Rouse said much of the publicity around the July 9 ruling focused on Birss’ comments about Samsung not being as cool. “The war between these two companies seems to be escalating even further,” noted Fowler.
“From a victory in court they were suddenly on the back foot,” Fowler said. “Getting this order fits in with the context of them trying to restore the balance.”
Source: Bloomberg
