T-Mobile joins Verizon in opposing Apple ban on Samsung gear
updated 09:10 pm EDT, Wed September 28, 2011
T-Mobile amicus brief echoes Verizon on Samsung
T-Mobile on Wednesday joined Verizon's opposition to a ban on Samsung by filing its own amicus brief in the Northern District of California court handling Apple's lawsuit. The carrier contended that it would "unnecessarily harm" T-Mobile to impose a preliminary ban on Samsung's phones and tablets, and was especially badly timed. With a hearing on October 13, a ban would mean it "could not find comparable replacement products" during the holidays, it said.
Unlike Verizon, however, T-Mobile believed the design patents relating to the look and feel of the iPad and iPhone, not just the software, were important in denying a ban. The difference suggested T-Mobile was more sincerely interested in keeping Samsung's hardware on sale than in making a token gesture to appease Google and Samsung without seriously threatening Apple.
T-Mobile may be too late regardless of sincerity. Apple first pushed for a preliminary ban in July, leaving any urgency in doubt given that T-Mobile waited two months to respond. The iPhone firm has also noted that amicus briefs may be invalid in the current case and with current timing.
Sprint hasn't filed a brief but may be keen not to upset Apple given a likely imminent iPhone 5 launch. T-Mobile has said it won't get the iPhone this year and has little to lose in the short term. [via Florian Mueller]
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Joined: Sep 2011
Lost profits are Samsung's fault
T-Mobile and Verizon can blame Samsung for any profits lost. Blatantly copying Apple's products they deserve what they get. Verizon doesn't need to complain as they have the iPhone already anyways.