A federal judge denied a request by Apple for an injunction against Samsung over a series of products that resemble the iPhone and iPad. The ruling allows Samsung to continue to sell their Galaxy line in the United States. Apple was hoping to block sales of the products that they claim infringe on their patents.
U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose wrote that, “It is not clear that an injunction on Samsung’s accused devices would prevent Apple from being irreparably harmed,” according to a report by Reuters. The ruling was a temporary win for Samsung. It is still possible that the judge will rule differently after the main proceedings.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab is an Android-powered device that retails for $330 on Amazon. It includes 16GB of memory with an expansion port for microSD, a 7 inch screen and a 1Ghz processor. Apple’s iPad has essentially the same technical specs, but retails for nearly $200 more.
Considering how similar tablets, laptops and other devices look, it would set a particularly bad legal precedent if the judge decides to rule in favor of Apple. It would also be a blow to consumers that are looking for an alternative to the over-priced iPad.
