What a week for Apple. First it swung a semi pan-European ban on sale of Samsung smartphones, including UK, France. Then it managed to pull off a ban of Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany (until September, anyway).
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Read Shock Decision: Samsung Galaxy S II Banned In Europe
But now it has won an appeal to expedite its US federal trial in its home district of Northern California against foe Samsung, pushing the date where the copying case will be heard forward to July 30 2012, according to Foss Patents.
South Korean based Samsung had been pushing for the US showdown over patents to be put back until March 2013, which the courts have now scheduled to take place over 13 days.
This also puts new pressure on Samsung to gather all evidence – it must now submit all depositions before the end of the year.
Each side is limited to 80 interrogatories during the trial, the court order states.
This federal case is only one of 19 lawsuits between the smartphone rivals in 12 courts in 9 countries on 4 continents, writes Foss Patents’ Florian Mueller, who brands the decision as an “important” victory for Cupertino.
Apple, are accusing Samsung of copying the “look and feel” of the iPhone and iPad for Galaxy S II smartphone and Galaxy Tab.
The 11 countries where a ban of sale of Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy S II and Ace handsets will take effect in October (unless it can address the ruled patent infringements) include Netherlands, the UK, France, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Lichtenstein, Luxemburg, Monaco, Sweden, Switzerland.
And amidst all these legal wins Apple Chief Steve Jobs resigned on Wednesday.
Win some, lose some, I guess.
