Samsung was on the verge of winning a court battle
in Germany against Apple, a judge indicated Tuesday, as the tech
giants engage in a global dispute over patents for mobile devices.
The judge is considering a case in which Apple alleges that five
Samsung tablet products frpm their Galaxy range imitate the look and
feel of Apple's iPad.
Judge Johanna Brueckner-Hofmann did not issue a verdict, but said
she was not convinced that consumers would mistake the Samsung
products for an iPad.
She adjourned the case at a court in Dusseldorf to await a ruling
by the Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office of the European
Union in Alicante, Spain. Samsung has requested that the body
de-register an Apple design.
The companies have fought legal battles in courts around the world
over claims of patent infringement.
In August, the South Korean company suffered its worst loss in a
Californian court. The jury found Samsung copied technology used in
the iPad and iPhone, and awarded Apple 1.05 billion dollars.
While Apple won a series of preliminary injunctions from the
Dusseldorf court, these now seem likely to be cancelled when the case
ends after further hearings.
A court spokesman said the injunctions will remain in force until
the German court issues its final verdict.
