No Apple-Samsung Deal in Australia Tablet Battle
It appears Apple is convinced that Samsung Electronics will not be able to market its Galaxy 10.1 tablet in Australia as the U.S. tech firm rejected Tuesday overtures by its South Korean rival for a settlement of their legal dispute.
Last week, Samsung moved to nix two features from its Galaxy 10.1 that Apple asserts violated its patent rights and an initiative that observers said would point to a likely settlement for the two companies, who are simultaneously business partners and enemies.
Samsung hoped its offer, which would have left one last crease on the thorny Apple-Samsung legal tussle, would finally pave the way for the Australian release of its flagship tablet computer, part of a new line of devices that Apple insist are mere copycats of its bestselling iPhones and iPads.
So far, the tech titan successfully blocked the release of the Samsung Galaxy product lines in Germany last month. Claiming that the South Korean company "slavishly: duplicates its popular gadgets, Apple vigorously opposes the release of the competing devices on every given territory.
Following favorable rulings in Germany, the United States and some parts of Asia, Apple is looking to prevent the sale of Galaxy in Australia despite efforts by Samsung, which it initiated late week, to strike a deal that would expectedly benefit both companies.
By Tuesday, however, the parties have all but given up in reaching a workable settlement as Samsung legal representatives informed the Federal Court in Sydney that "it is not going to be achievable, Your Honor, given the positions advanced by each party."
For its part, Apple has indicated that the patent litigation would take its full course, based its filing before the court.
"It is one we don't accept and there is no surprise. The main reason we are here is to prevent the launch (of the Galaxy 10.1) and maintain the status quo," Apple lawyer Steven Burley told Reuters Tuesday.
Once again, Samsung found itself replicating its earlier decision earlier this year in America, that is to delay the Galaxy launch at least until after its legal spars with Apple reach a definite conclusion.