Samsung Galaxy tablet is banned in Europe

August 10, 2011

LONDON – Apple as obtained a temporary injunction that prevents Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. from distributing the Samsung Galaxy 10.1-inch screen size tablet computer in all countries of the European Union except The Netherlands, according to reports.

The banning order was issued by a district court in Dusseldorf according to the reports without the knowledge of Samsung or representation at the hearing.

A Bloomberg report references an Apple spokesperson as confirming the report and Samsung spokesperson saying the company would fight to make its products available.

The injunction is based on the allegation that the Galaxy tablet infringes a European registered "community design" related to the iPad 2, a form of design copyright, according some reports. It is not clear how long the temporary order will remain in place. The Galaxy 10.1 had recently gone on sale in the U.K. and across Europe.

Apple and Samsung had previously exchanged lawsuits alleging in such places as the United States, South Korea and Germany alleging patent infringement. Apple filed an original law suit in April alleging Samsung had "slavishly" copied the look-and-feel of both its iPhone and the iPad.

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