A federal judge has granted Apple its injunction against Samsung in the company’s patent dispute, preventing the phone maker from selling in the US the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the flagship handset sporting Google’s Android OS.
The computer giant was granted a similar injunction blocking the sale of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 last month.
Apple had sued the company on patent violation, claiming that two of its patents related to data patenting and search were violated by Samsung.
“Apple has made a clear showing that, in the absence of a preliminary injunction, it is likely to lose substantial market share in the smartphone market and to lose substantial downstream sales of future smartphone purchases and tag-along products,” stated U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in last week’s ruling, according Samsung’s Galaxy tablets are viewed by many analysts as Apple’s main rival to its iPad, though tablets recently released by Google and Microsoft have increased competition. Samsung is likewise viewed as Apple’s biggest competitor to Apple’s iPhone, accounting for 29.2 percent of all global smartphone shipments, while Apple makes up 24.2 percent.
Koh had previously denied Apple the injunction, but a federal appeals court asked Koh to reconsider the matter. She ordered Apple to post a $2.6 million bond to pay for damages to Samsung if later courts rule the injunction was wrong.
“It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging,” Apple said in a statement. “This kind of blatant copying is wrong and, as we’ve said many times before, we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.”
Samsung, meanwhile, has signed up Google to help out in its patent fight, though the search engine is not part of the lawsuit, according to the Korea Times. As Apple is a big competitor against Google since the search engine launched its tablet, it has everything to gain in teaming up for the fight.
“We’re disappointed with this decision, but we believe the correct result will be reached as more evidence comes to light,” a Google spokesperson stated in an circulated statement.
The stakes are high. An industry analyst told the Apple Insider the injunction could cost Samsung up to $80 million. If the sales band extends two months, Samsung stands to lose $120 million in sales.
The ruling is the latest in Apple’s battle against the Android operating system began in 2010 as the iPhone maker struggles to limit the growth of its biggest competition. Judge Koh indicated in her ruling that Apple’s lawsuit appears likely to succeed.
The ruling is the latest in Apple’s battle against the Android operating system began in 2010 as the iPhone maker struggles to limit the growth of its biggest competition. Judge Koh indicated in her ruling that Apple’s lawsuit appears likely to succeed.