Apple gets one last chance at Samsung German ban

A court in Dusseldorf, Germany issued a ruling Friday that it would hear Apple's appeal over a denied Galaxy Tab 10.1N ban on June 5. The procedure will start decisions on whether or not a judge was wrong in February to decide that the slightly modified Android tablet didn't infringe Apple's design rights. A representative for the court, Ulrich Egger, didn't expect the June date to represent a final decision.

The Tab 10.1N was designed explicitly to get around a successful ban on the regular Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the European country. Apart from "lips" that move the speakers and docking port to the front, the hardware is the same as the spring 2011 original. A judge decided that it was different enough from what Apple had envisioned, which was largely a flat, black surface on the front.

A June 5 hearing helps magnify what will be a very active legal season for Apple, which has to both pursue its own lawsuits as well as defend against them in the next few weeks. It will be in near-mandatory settlement talks within three months that may put an end to much of the legal action between the two.

If overturned, the ban could potentially extend to the Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2, either of which shares the same basic design concept. [via PC World]

By Electronista Staff

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