Apple Scores German Injunction, Halts New Samsung Galaxy Tab

Samsung Electronics Co. will have to stop all promotions of its latest tablet computer in Germany after Apple Inc. won a second injunction to block the sale of the Galaxy Tab in that country.

The injunction came as one of the world's largest electronics shows gets under way.

Blog Foss Patents reported the on Saturday that the 7.7 device, which had been on display is now bearing a sticker that read Not for sale in Germany.

It also noted that Apple might have gotten a new temporary injunction for the new tablet, or the iPhone maker might have claimed enough similarity between the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and the temporarily banned Galaxy Tab 10.1 to warrant a court-ordered fine on Samsung for contempt of the 10.1 injunction.

Last month, a court in Dusseldorf gave Apple the preliminary injunction on sales of the Galaxy Tab 10.1. The ban, which initially applied to nearly all European Union countries, was later limited to Germany as the court said it didn't have any jurisdiction over other nations.

Apple has claimed that Samsung ripped off its technology and design details from the iPad to develop the Galaxy Tab. Samsung has denied those allegations.

Samsung is Apple's closest rival in tablet computers.

The company had to pull the just-unveiled Galaxy Tab 7.7 out of the IFA consumer- electronics show in Berlin after a Dusseldorf court granted Apple's request on Sept. 2 to ban sales and marketing of the product, James Chung, a Seoul-based spokesman for Samsung, told the media.

Chung told bloomberg he couldn't confirm if Samsung has received the court order, while Steve Park, a Seoul-based spokesman for Apple, couldn't immediately comment on the ruling.

Samsung respects the court's decision, Chung said, adding that the company believes it severely limits consumer choice in Germany.

Samsung intends to pursue all available options, including legal action, to defend its intellectual property right, Chung added.