Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia on Hold Owing to Apple Lawsuit

CANBERRA, Australia – Apple’s patent lawsuit against Samsung may cost the South Korean some heavy duty, as the lawsuit has stopped the sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia, until and unless the patent lawsuit is resolved in the country.

The lawsuit accuses Samsung of reportedly infringing 10 Apple patents in its newly launched Galaxy Tab 10.1, which includes the entire “look and feel”, and the touchscreen technology used in the iPad, Steven Burley, a lawyer for Apple, told Federal Court Justice Annabelle Bennett in Sydney yesterday. Apple sought for an Australian injunction, and also wants to withhold the sale of the Galaxy 10.1 in other countries, although the countries were not specified.

The dispute between the two giants began quiet some time back, when Apple sued Samsung in the U.S stating Galaxy products being complete rip-off in terms of design and technologies of the iPad and iPhone. Samsung countered tgis move by Apple by filing a lawsuit in South Korea, Japan, Germany and U.S.

Apple played a spoiled-sport to the party, as an imminent launch was on the cards for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and now with the Australian injunction coming into play, all plans were cancelled. Apple has based this lawsuit on a U.S version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 which is not the same as the one which will be sold in Australia Samsung’s lawyer Neil Murray said.

The injunction on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in terms of Sale and Advertisements does not affect any other Samsung device sale in the Australian region, or any other country. Moreover, Samsung has agreed to provide Apple with three samples of the Australian version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 for review at least seven days before Samsung planned to start distributing it.