Apple Files Dispute Against Samsung Down Under

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We’re sure you’re no stranger to the battle that is Apple versus Samsung – the two have been at it for quite some time in the United States. To elucidate, Apple accuses Samsung of copying some of its product designs to confuse buyers. But Apple isn’t stopping within the boundaries of the U.S. – the company also filed an injunction against Samsung in Australia. And according to Apple’s reps, they have only just begun.

Apple’s lawyer, Steven Burley, filed the injunction in Australia, citing 10 instances of patent infringement against Samsung’s upcoming 10-inch tablet. In effect, all of Samsung’s ads in Australia announcing the impending launch of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 were put to a halt. Apple says the Galaxy Tab 10.1 looks too much like the iPad – it has a bit of iPad’s touchscreen technology, too.

Samsung claims its Australian version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is different from the U.S. version on which Apple’s patent infringement claims are based so Apple has no right to stop the Australian release. If that’s true, then good for Samsung. In Australia anyway. That argument sounds very much like a double-edged sword that puts the U.S. version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in question even more, don’t you think?

What Apple thinks of that, we don’t know. But the company agreed to review three Australian units 7 days prior to release to know if Samsung’s telling the truth. If Apple proves Samsung‘s infringing upon its intellectual property rights, then sorry, mate, but you’re not getting the 10-inch version of the Galaxy Tab. But if Samsung wins this, Apple’s paying an undisclosed sum for damages incurred.

After Australia, Apple’s planning on filing import bans against Samsung products in numerous other countries. The company won’t specify which countries those are, but if Apple can file a dispute against Samsung in its home country, we suspect the company can and will follow Samsung wherever it goes. And, of course, try to get the importing ban-hammer brought down upon the Galaxy Tab 10.1 everywhere it can, too.