Samsung denied stay of Galaxy Tab 10.1 injunction
updated 10:44 pm EDT, Mon July 2, 2012
Galaxy Nexus phone appeal in progress
US District Court Judge Lucy Koh rejected Samsung's attempt to lift the injunction against US sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 pending appeal. In the last week, the judge has blocked the sale of the tablet, similarly enjoined the Galaxy Nexus, cleared Apple of infringing a Samsing patent on a standards-essential UTMS technology, and denied Samsung's summary judgement motions summary judgement motions on all 12 of Apple's claims of infringement. Samsung only has (now) six claims left against Apple; Apple has (for now) 12 against Samsung. The injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is primarily based on the "unified search," or Siri patent.
The injunction does not affect the Galaxy Tab 2 line, as it is considered a separate product not covered under this injunction. Some of the Apple-owned patents are alleged to be a part of Samsung's newer products, like the Galaxy Tab 2, and these are scheduled to be addressed in a bench trial, unless Apple attempts an injunction on the Galaxy S III smartphone. Judge Koh has already warned Apple that if it attempted an injunction on the newer cellphone, then it would have to accept a postponement of the trial.
Samsung has also appealed to the federal appeals court in Washington, DC. The DC-based court is Samsung's "last stand" in order to get the injunction on sales lifted. The Galaxy Nexus phone's sales ban is also being appealed.
The legal battles in the United States between Apple and Samsung began last year. After a failed bid to get the CEOs of Apple and Samsung to work out a settlement, Judge Koh has winnowed the issues for the trial significantly -- patents that have been dropped in the interest of expediency may be refiled at a later date. In addition, the judge is significantly limiting the amount of time and exhibits that Samsung and Apple may present at trial.
