Galaxy Tab 10.1 vs. iPad 2: Samsung Says Apple Actually Promoted the Galaxy Tab Due to Lawsuits

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Apple’s lawsuit against the Samsung Galaxy Tab in 10 territories in four continents may just have been a blessing in disguise, with the brand gaining mindshare because of the publicity in technology blogs and news media.

Samsung is now making a big push to market its Galaxy Tab in Australia, amid efforts by Apple to block sales in various regions around the world. Apple has so far had some success with the courts temporarily granting a ban against the Samsung Galaxy Tab, citing infringement against its design patents. But it turns out Samsung may have the last laugh on the matter.

Last Friday, a federal court has denied Apple’s appeal to keep the Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales ban in Australia in place. Samsung’s vice president of telecommunication in the region says that pre-orders for the tablet have been pouring in, and they have Apple to thank for the publicity generated by the lawsuits. The Galaxy Tab has grown to be a “household name” because of the media attention.

At the end of the day the media awareness certainly made the Galaxy Tab 10.1 a household name compared to probably what it would’ve been based on the investment that we would’ve put into it from a marketing perspective.

Samsung sees this week as a busy one, with the Australian launch of the Galaxy Nexus and with the release of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the region. Samsung foresees that the Galaxy Tab might sell out, as “there will probably be short supply against the demand.”

Apple has accused Samsung of “slavishly” copying design elements from the iPad and iPhone in the Korean company’s own Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab offerings. The Cupertino-based company actually gave some recommendations on how Samsung would avoid being a copycat, although design experts say the iPad’s design actually takes cue from what a basic, universal tablet computer might look like, and it would be practically impossible to design a tablet that does not use some of these elements. As such, there is question as to whether Apple’s design patents are valid at all, due to prior art, and due to practicality purposes.