The Galaxy makers have denied any wrong doing over Apple patents allegations, although admit similarities exist.
 Click to enlarge |
And it appears Apple thinks it is more than just a passing likeness and just two weeks ago was granted a court order to review unreleased devices including Android Galaxy S 4G, Epic 4G, Nexus S and Galaxy Tab.
Apple is accusing Samsung of replicating the “look and feel” of its iPad, iPhone and even iPod Touch which J.K. Shin, head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications, firmly denied in an interview this week.
And Shin also appears to be confident Apple doesn’t have a case despite the ruling by a US court last week to hand over prototypes to the iPhone, which appears to suggest they do have a case.
Apple has demonstrated good cause for some limited expedited discovery,” said Judge Lucy Koh ruled in Federal Court, California.
“We didn’t copy Apple’s design,” Shin said. However, he admitted: “We have used many similar designs over the past years.”
However, these “will not be legally problematic,” he added.
But it may not be as easy as that. Apple have rejected Samsung’s own calls to review its forthcoming iPad 3 and next generation iPhone, which the Korean giant made to US courts last Friday, and believe Steve Jobs’ company is trying to trip it up and lift some of its Galaxy smartphone and tab innovations.
“In effect, Apple seeks to prevent Samsung from fairly competing in the marketplace regardless of whether [its] future products even remotely resemble the allegedly protected elements of Apple’s products that will be released in the same period,” Samsung believes.
Either way, Apple may be too late. Samsung’s new Galaxy S II has gone down a treat with consumers and reviewers alike, and is the fastest selling phone in history in its home country, Korea.
And Shin has also hinted a slew of new Android Tabs are on the way with 4G enhancements and more screen variations including 8.9″. And Apple, now the most profitable tech company in the world, may also have other worries.
A report out today shows 75 per cent of tech consumers are open to buying non Apple devices, despite its market supremacy to date with Motorola’s Atrix and Samsung Galaxy Tab cited as credible rivals to the cult device.
“Since nearly three-quarters of potential buyers in the UK and US are open to purchasing non-Apple tablets … there is still plenty of opportunity for Apple competitors to take a share of the tablet market,” Strategy Analytics research states.
“Everybody is aware that Apple has done well, but there is every potential for other vendors, such as Samsung and Motorola, to catch the market leader,” said Peter King, Service Director, Strategy Analytics.
The product managers over at its Silicon Valley Cupertino campus had better make sure they come up with the goods for iPad 3 and iPhone 5 pretty quick as the mighty often have a habit of falling.
Just ask Cheryl Cole (or Microsoft).
