Apple July 19, 2012

Apple Constrained to Advertise for Samsung in U.K.

Due to the July 9 London court decision that Samsung Electronics does not infringe Apple’s iPad design patents, the Cupertino company will have to state it clearly on its U.K. website and on U.K. newspapers that Samsung’s Galaxy tablets don’t copy the design of the iPad.

Judge Collin Birss said that Apple will have post the notification on its home page for 6 months and will have to pay for notices also in the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, Guardian Mobile magazine, and T3. Judge Birss concluded that Samsung infringes none of the design patents because the Galaxy tablets “are not as cool” as the iPad.

Richard Hacon, Apple lawyer, commented on the humiliating situation by telling the court that “No company likes to refer to a rival on its website” and that the decision constrains Apple to “advertise” for Samsung. Samsung’s lawyer Kathryn Pickard said during the lawsuit that Apple’s patent infringement accusation was unfair and “caused real commercial harm.”

Still, Judge Briss granted Apple’s permission to appeal the 9 July London court decision.

Source: Bloomberg